Introduction

Mokrosińska, Dorota; Roessler, Beate

doi:10.1017/cbo9781107280557.001

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…With this, we refer to a family of approaches that at least partly rejects a classical understanding of privacy in its literal sense. This rather common sense idea of privacy is based on autonomy as noninterference, resulting in a right to have one’s own informational sphere separated from the public or to be in control of who has access to certain information [ 19 , 66 ]. In contrast, social accounts of privacy argue that especially digital large-scale technologies (eg, platform technologies, social media networks, and others) do not primarily endanger individual interests but may influence society and social life to a more general extent [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This rather common sense idea of privacy is based on autonomy as noninterference, resulting in a right to have one’s own informational sphere separated from the public or to be in control of who has access to certain information [ 19 , 66 ]. In contrast, social accounts of privacy argue that especially digital large-scale technologies (eg, platform technologies, social media networks, and others) do not primarily endanger individual interests but may influence society and social life to a more general extent [ 19 ]. Therefore, it has been argued that privacy has a social value as a norm that regulates and structures well-functioning societies through protection of individuals [ 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From the perspective of health and data ethics, the impact of DCTAs has been discussed, especially with reference to users' autonomy and privacy, that is, as a potential threat to informational self-determination and a possible step toward (governmental) mass surveillance [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Privacy in these debates is often understood as the ability to control access to information or the ability to have one's domain of information [19]. However, recent approaches that understand privacy as a norm that regulates and structures social life have gained increasing importance [15,[20][21][22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cultural Implications Regarding Privacy in Digital Contact Tracing Algorithms: Method Development and Empirical Ethics Analysis of a German and a Japanese Approach to Contact Tracing

Haltaufderheide,

Viero,

Krämer

2023

J Med Internet Res

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Background Digital contact tracing algorithms (DCTAs) have emerged as a means of supporting pandemic containment strategies and protecting populations from the adverse effects of COVID-19. However, the impact of DCTAs on users’ privacy and autonomy has been heavily debated. Although privacy is often viewed as the ability to control access to information, recent approaches consider it as a norm that structures social life. In this regard, cultural factors are crucial in evaluating the appropriateness of information flows in DCTAs. Hence, an important part of ethical evaluations of DCTAs is to develop an understanding of their information flow and their contextual situatedness to be able to adequately evaluate questions about privacy. However, only limited studies and conceptual approaches are currently available in this regard. Objective This study aimed to develop a case study methodology to include contextual cultural factors in ethical analysis and present exemplary results of a subsequent analysis of 2 different DCTAs following this approach. Methods We conducted a comparative qualitative case study of the algorithm of the Google Apple Exposure Notification Framework as exemplified in the German Corona Warn App and the Japanese approach of Computation of Infection Risk via Confidential Locational Entries (CIRCLE) method. The methodology was based on a postphenomenological perspective, combined with empirical investigations of the technological artifacts within their context of use. An ethics of disclosure approach was used to focus on the social ontologies created by the algorithms and highlight their connection to the question about privacy. Results Both algorithms use the idea of representing a social encounter of 2 subjects. These subjects gain significance in terms of risk against the background of a representation of their temporal and spatial properties. However, the comparative analysis reveals 2 major differences. Google Apple Exposure Notification Framework prioritizes temporality over spatiality. In contrast, the representation of spatiality is reduced to distance without any direction or orientation. However, the CIRCLE framework prioritizes spatiality over temporality. These different concepts and prioritizations can be seen to align with important cultural differences in considering basic concepts such as subject, time, and space in Eastern and Western thought. Conclusions The differences noted in this study essentially lead to 2 different ethical questions about privacy that are raised against the respective backgrounds. These findings have important implications for the ethical evaluation of DCTAs, suggesting that a culture-sensitive assessment is required to ensure that technologies fit into their context and create less concern regarding their ethical acceptability. Methodologically, our study provides a basis for an intercultural approach to the ethics of disclosure, allowing for cross-cultural dialogue that can overcome mutual implicit biases and blind spots based on cultural differences.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Cultural Implications Regarding Privacy in Digital Contact Tracing Algorithms: Method Development and Empirical Ethics Analysis of a German and a Japanese Approach to Contact Tracing

Haltaufderheide,

Viero,

Krämer

2023

J Med Internet Res

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“…Consent in this sense is the guard, which protects an inner, private realm from an outside, public realm. However, this view has been widely criticised [69]. Moving away from the Bourgeois practices of privacy as retreat of the individual from the public or social life, 20th century privacy discourses moved to practices of information control of multiple instances of the self in a relational performance [52,62].…”

Section: Theoretical Framingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should I Agree?

Nissen

Neumann

Mikusz

et al. 2019

Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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Obtaining meaningful user consent is increasingly problematic in a world of numerous, heterogeneous digital services. Current approaches (e.g. agreeing to Terms and Conditions) are rooted in the idea of individual control despite growing evidence that users do not (or cannot) exercise such control in informed ways. We consider an alternative approach whereby users can opt to delegate consent decisions to an ecosystem of third-parties including friends, experts, groups and AI entities. We present the results of a study that used a technology probe at a large festival to explore initial public responses to this reframing-focusing on when and to whom users would delegate such decisions. The results reveal substantial public interest in delegating consent and identify differing preferences depending on the privacy context, highlighting the need for alternative decision mechanisms beyond the current focus on individual choice.

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Cultural Implications Regarding Privacy in Digital Contact Tracing Algorithms: Method Development and Empirical Ethics Analysis of a German and a Japanese Approach to Contact Tracing (Preprint)

Haltaufderheide,

Viero,

Krämer

2022

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Digital contact tracing algorithms (DCTAs) have emerged as a means of supporting pandemic containment strategies and protecting populations from the adverse effects of COVID-19. However, the impact of DCTAs on users’ privacy and autonomy has been heavily debated. Although privacy is often viewed as the ability to control access to information, recent approaches consider it as a norm that structures social life. In this regard, cultural factors are crucial in evaluating the appropriateness of information flows in DCTAs. Hence, an important part of ethical evaluations of DCTAs is to develop an understanding of their information flow and their contextual situatedness to be able to adequately evaluate questions about privacy. However, only limited studies and conceptual approaches are currently available in this regard. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop a case study methodology to include contextual cultural factors in ethical analysis and present exemplary results of a subsequent analysis of 2 different DCTAs following this approach. METHODS We conducted a comparative qualitative case study of the algorithm of the Google Apple Exposure Notification Framework as exemplified in the German Corona Warn App and the Japanese approach of Computation of Infection Risk via Confidential Locational Entries (CIRCLE) method. The methodology was based on a postphenomenological perspective, combined with empirical investigations of the technological artifacts within their context of use. An ethics of disclosure approach was used to focus on the social ontologies created by the algorithms and highlight their connection to the question about privacy. RESULTS Both algorithms use the idea of representing a social encounter of 2 subjects. These subjects gain significance in terms of risk against the background of a representation of their temporal and spatial properties. However, the comparative analysis reveals 2 major differences. Google Apple Exposure Notification Framework prioritizes temporality over spatiality. In contrast, the representation of spatiality is reduced to distance without any direction or orientation. However, the CIRCLE framework prioritizes spatiality over temporality. These different concepts and prioritizations can be seen to align with important cultural differences in considering basic concepts such as subject, time, and space in Eastern and Western thought. CONCLUSIONS The differences noted in this study essentially lead to 2 different ethical questions about privacy that are raised against the respective backgrounds. These findings have important implications for the ethical evaluation of DCTAs, suggesting that a culture-sensitive assessment is required to ensure that technologies fit into their context and create less concern regarding their ethical acceptability. Methodologically, our study provides a basis for an intercultural approach to the ethics of disclosure, allowing for cross-cultural dialogue that can overcome mutual implicit biases and blind spots based on cultural differences.

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Introduction

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Cultural Implications Regarding Privacy in Digital Contact Tracing Algorithms: Method Development and Empirical Ethics Analysis of a German and a Japanese Approach to Contact Tracing

Cultural Implications Regarding Privacy in Digital Contact Tracing Algorithms: Method Development and Empirical Ethics Analysis of a German and a Japanese Approach to Contact Tracing

Should I Agree?

Cultural Implications Regarding Privacy in Digital Contact Tracing Algorithms: Method Development and Empirical Ethics Analysis of a German and a Japanese Approach to Contact Tracing (Preprint)

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