Imprudence of reason: an examination of privacy expectations

Abstract

To address this, I begin by critically reviewing privacy's framing problem, which I contend places too much confidence on the notion of expectations and individualized control. I explore this further in a qualitative study comprised of an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Findings were then used to derive a proposed two-mode consumer model: blind faith and survivalists. With these modes, I consider alternative interpretations of privacy, including an extension to boyd's theory of networked privacy. I conclude with a discussion for a reflexive practice to evaluate methodological approaches within privacy research that may impact future public policymaking.

Modern day digital technologies and privacy are at odds. For over a decade, this debate over privacy rights has revolved around the divergence between our collective understanding of its value in society and our individual ability to protect it. From recent massive data breaches (e.g. Anthem, Home Depot, etc.) to unauthorized government surveillance, consumer privacy protection is plagued by violations. Yet, the amount of personal data online continues to increase. This mismatch motivates the following dissertation work.