Information Privacy Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on the Restaurant Context

Abstract

The acquisition of personal information has been generally accepted in the pandemic situation as an effective measure to prevent infection, while at the same time raising concerns regarding the infringement of personal privacy. The current study aimed to propose and empirically test a research model for restaurant customers on the disclosure of personal information in a pandemic situation. Privacy calculus theory and institutional theory were applied to theoretically explain the drivers/inhibitors and behavioral responses that affect disclosure of personal information. We verified that the most influential factor on intention to disclose was "perceived benefit", followed by "government pressure" as another strong predictor. We present theoretical and practical implications for restaurant managers and policy agencies.

Vulnerability and perceived risks in the peer‐to‐peer sharing economy

“…To this end, we found prosumer vulnerability to be a significant and potent driver of all five types of risk perceptions (i.e., health, psychological, social, security, and privacy) for both the consumer and provider roles. This corroborates prior research findings that individuals' appraisal of the situational threat leads to risk perception (Lee et al, 2023). However, our findings pertain to specific risk types instead of just general risk (e.g., Kim & Kim, 2018; Lee et al, 2023; Prince & Kim, 2021).…”

“…This corroborates prior research findings that individuals' appraisal of the situational threat leads to risk perception (Lee et al, 2023). However, our findings pertain to specific risk types instead of just general risk (e.g., Kim & Kim, 2018; Lee et al, 2023; Prince & Kim, 2021). Our findings further demonstrate that for both consumers and providers, psychological and security risks are significant factors in reducing intent to participate in the P2P sharing economy.…”

“…Analogously, prosumer vulnerability is also an individual contextual factor that could explain how sharing economy participants perceive risk. The link between vulnerability and perception of risk has been examined previously in the tourism (Lee et al, 2023;Prince & Kim, 2021), Internet theft victimization (Reisig et al, 2009), and health contexts. In scrutinizing this link, these studies mostly relied on protection motivation theory and its threat appraisal concept.…”

“…In scrutinizing this link, these studies mostly relied on protection motivation theory and its threat appraisal concept. More specifically, it is likely that an individual's appraisal of a situational threat shapes their perception of risks (Lee et al, 2023). If they feel powerless, they are more likely to believe that using or providing P2P sharing economy services may lead to negative consequences for them.…”

“…Therefore, we posit that higher vulnerability levels increase risk perceptions, both when using and providing P2P sharing economy services. Interestingly, extant literature examined the link between vulnerability and general risk perception (e.g., Kim & Kim, 2018; Lee et al, 2023; Prince & Kim, 2021), while particular types of perceived risk have not been examined. Thus, we aim to fill this literature gap and posit that all five perceived risk types—that is, health, psychological, social, security, and privacy—are higher among users who perceive themselves as more (vs. less) vulnerable.…”