Dimensions of Privacy Concern among Online Consumers

Abstract

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is one of many organizations studying influences on consumer privacy online. The authors investigate these influences, taking into consideration the current body of literature on privacy and the Internet and the FTC's core principles of fair information practice. The authors analyze these influences to assess the underlying factors of privacy concern online. The authors examine the current recommendations and actions of the FTC in light of the results of an e-mail survey of online consumers in the United States that assessed their attitudes toward privacy online. The authors find that the FTC's core principles address many of online consumers’ privacy concerns. However, two factors not directly incorporated in the five principles, the relationships between entities and online users and the exchange of information for appropriate compensation, may influence consumers’ privacy concerns.

A Three-way Interaction Model of Information Withholding: Investigating the Role of Information Sensitivity, Prevention Focus, and Interdependent Self-Construal

“…These prior studies, which used information types as indicators of information sensitivity, ignored the fact that the perception of sensitivity varies with different individuals and situations (Sheehan & Hoy, 2000). For instance, demographic information with relatively lower levels of sensitivity, such as age, may be perceived as more sensitive for some users, especially for single female users.…”

The effects of general privacy concerns and transactional privacy concerns on Facebook apps usage

“…For instance, Sheehan and Hoy (2000) found that individuals with higher privacy concerns in transactions were more likely to provide incomplete information or turn down the particular transaction. On the contrary, evidence suggests that individuals with lower privacy concerns in transactions had higher tendency to being profiled or identified (Berendt et al 2005).…”

Dimensions of Internet Commerce Trust

“…Thus, while millions of people flock to Internet commerce, they continue to clamor for stricter privacy laws, tighter web security, and greater control of personal information (Sheehan & Hoy, 2000). Internet researchers have reported that, regardless of the number of privacy policies or "high-tech" encryption systems, what web consumers really want is " ... another type of exchange-characterized by an explicit social contract executed in the context of a cooperative relationship built on trust" (Hoffman, Novak & Peralta, 1999;p.…”

“…Researchers have observed that privacy is a multidimensional concept and plays a critical role in fear of purchasing online (Hine & Eve, 1998;Sheehan & Hoy, 2000). This concern for privacy likely derives from fear of the unknown (Hoffman, Novak & Peralta, 1999).…”

“…Following the stepwise pro- Leunis, 1999;Sheehan & Hoy, 2000). Additional items were generated from student volunteers using focus groups as standard qualitative techniques utilized to bring out contemporary issues not yet in print.…”