Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dis-Empowerment Online: An Investigation of Privacy-Sharing Perceptions and Method Preferences

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Book cover Financial Cryptography and Data Security (FC 2020)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNSC,volume 12063))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

While it is often claimed that users are empowered via online technologies, there is also a general feeling of privacy dis-empowerment. We investigate the perception of privacy and sharing empowerment online, as well as the use of privacy technologies, via a cross-national online study with N = 907 participants. We find that perception of privacy empowerment differs from that of sharing across dimensions of meaningfulness, competence and choice. We find similarities and differences in privacy method preference between the US, UK and Germany. We also find that non-technology methods of privacy protection are among the most preferred methods, while more advanced and standalone privacy technologies are least preferred. By mapping the perception of privacy dis-empowerment into patterns of privacy behavior online, and clarifying the similarities and distinctions in privacy technology use, this paper provides an important foundation for future research and the design of privacy technologies. The findings may be used across disciplines to develop more user-centric privacy technologies, that support and enable the user.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Abu-Salma, R., Sasse, M.A., Bonneau, J., Danilova, A., Naiakshina, A., Smith, M.: Obstacles to the adoption of secure communication tools. In: 2017 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (SP), pp. 137–153. IEEE (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Aguinis, H., Pierce, C.A., Culpepper, S.A.: Scale coarseness as a methodological artifact: correcting correlation coefficients attenuated from using coarse scales. Organ. Res. Methods 12(4), 623–652 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Benenson, Z., Girard, A., Krontiris, I.: User acceptance factors for anonymous credentials: an empirical investigation. In: WEIS (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chimi, C.J., Russell, D.L.: The likert scale: a proposal for improvement using quasi-continuous variables. In: Information Systems Education Conference, Washington, DC, pp. 1–10 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cook, C., Heath, F., Thompson, R.L., Thompson, B.: Score reliability in webor internet-based surveys: unnumbered graphic rating scales versus likert-type scales. Educ. Psychol. Measur. 61(4), 697–706 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Coopamootoo, K.P.L.: Towards empowering the human for privacy online. In: Kosta, E., Pierson, J., Slamanig, D., Fischer-Hübner, S., Krenn, S. (eds.) Privacy and Identity 2018. IAICT, vol. 547, pp. 67–80. Springer, Cham (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16744-8_5

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. Coopamootoo, K.P.L., Groß, T.: Evidence-based methods for privacy and identity management. In: Lehmann, A., Whitehouse, D., Fischer-Hübner, S., Fritsch, L., Raab, C. (eds.) Privacy and Identity 2016. IAICT, vol. 498, pp. 105–121. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55783-0_9

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Coopamootoo, K.P.L., Groß, T.: Cyber security and privacy experiments: a design and reporting toolkit. In: Hansen, M., Kosta, E., Nai-Fovino, I., Fischer-Hübner, S. (eds.) Privacy and Identity 2017. IAICT, vol. 526, pp. 243–262. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92925-5_17

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Coopamootoo, K.P., Groß, T.: Why privacy is all but forgotten - an empirical study of privacy and sharing attitude. In: Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies, vol. 4, pp. 39–60 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Harborth, D., Pape, S.: Examining technology use factors of privacy-enhancing technologies: the role of perceived anonymity and trust (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kraimer, M.L., Seibert, S.E., Liden, R.C.: Psychological empowerment as a multidimensional construct: A test of construct validity. Educ. Psychol. Measur. 59(1), 127–142 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Mansell, R.: Empowerment and/or disempowerment: the politics of digital media. Popul. Commun. 12(4), 223–236 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Menon, S.T.: Psychological empowerment: definition, measurement, and validation. Can. J. Behav. Sci./Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement 31(3), 161 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Nikiforakis, N., Kapravelos, A., Joosen, W., Kruegel, C., Piessens, F., Vigna, G.: Cookieless monster: exploring the ecosystem of web-based device fingerprinting. In: 2013 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, pp. 541–555. IEEE (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  15. O’Hara, K., Tuffield, M.M., Shadbolt, N.: Lifelogging: privacy and empowerment with memories for life. Identity Inf. Soc. 1(1), 155–172 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12394-009-0008-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Peer, E., Brandimarte, L., Samat, S., Acquisti, A.: Beyond the turk: alternative platforms for crowdsourcing behavioral research. J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 70, 153–163 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Pierson, J.: Online privacy in social media: a conceptual exploration of empowerment and vulnerability. Commun. Strat. 88, 99–120 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rainie, L., et al.: Anonymity, privacy, and security online. Pew Res. Center 5 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Seibert, S.E., Wang, G., Courtright, S.H.: Antecedents and consequences of psychological and team empowerment in organizations: a meta-analytic review (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Spreitzer, G.M.: Psychological empowerment in the workplace: dimensions, measurement, and validation. Acad. Manag. J. 38(5), 1442–1465 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Thomas, K.W., Velthouse, B.A.: Cognitive elements of empowerment: an interpretive model of intrinsic task motivation. Acad. Manag. Rev. 15(4), 666–681 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Van Dyke, T.P., Midha, V., Nemati, H.: The effect of consumer privacy empowerment on trust and privacy concerns in e-commerce. Electron. Mark. 17(1), 68–81 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Wewers, M.E., Lowe, N.K.: A critical review of visual analogue scales in the measurement of clinical phenomena. Res. Nurs. Health 13(4), 227–236 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Kovila P. L. Coopamootoo

Authors
  1. Kovila P. L. Coopamootoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kovila P. L. Coopamootoo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, USA

    Matthew Bernhard

  2. Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK

    Andrea Bracciali

  3. Computer Science Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

    L. Jean Camp

  4. Department of Computer Science, Georgetown University, Washington, WA, USA

    Shin'ichiro Matsuo

  5. Western Sydney University, Parramatta, Australia

    Alana Maurushat

  6. Maison du Nombre, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

    Peter B. Rønne

  7. Dipartimento di Matematica, University of Trento, Trento, Trento, Italy

    Massimiliano Sala

7 Appendix

7 Appendix

Table 7. Privacy method differences across countries with chi square test, sorted by effect size V
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Coopamootoo, K.P.L. (2020). Dis-Empowerment Online: An Investigation of Privacy-Sharing Perceptions and Method Preferences. In: Bernhard, M., et al. Financial Cryptography and Data Security. FC 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12063. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54455-3_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54455-3_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-54454-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-54455-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation