UK-SPS Seminar 16th June 2021 - Usage Patterns of Privacy

Title:  Usage Patterns of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies [CCS ’20]

Speaker: Kovila P.L. Coopamootoo (Newcastle)

 Seminar Recording link available below via YouTube link:

Abstract: The steady reports of privacy invasions online paints a picture of the Internet growing into a more dangerous place. This is supported by reports of the potential scale for online harms facilitated by the mass deployment of online technology and by the data-intensive web. While Internet users often express concern about privacy, some report taking actions to protect their privacy online.

We investigate the methods and technologies that individuals employ to protect their privacy online. We conduct two studies, of N=180 and N=907, to elicit individuals’ use of privacy methods, within the US, the UK and Germany. We find that non-technology methods are among the most used methods in the three countries. We identify distinct groupings of privacy methods usage in a cluster map. The map shows that together with non-technology methods of privacy protection, simple privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) that are integrated in services, form the most used cluster, whereas more advanced PETs form a different, least used cluster. We further investigate user perception and reasoning for mostly using one set of PETs in a third study with N=183 participants. We do not find a difference in perceived competency in protecting privacy online between advanced and simpler PETs users. We compare use perceptions between advanced and simpler PETs and report on user reasoning for not using advanced PETs, as well as support needed for potential use. This paper contributes to privacy research by eliciting use and perception of use across 43 privacy methods, including 26 PETs across three countries and provides a map of PETs usage. The cluster map provides a systematic and reliable point of reference for future user-centric investigations across PETs. Overall, this research provides a broad understanding of use and perceptions across a collection of PETs, and can lead to future research for scaling use of PETs.

Bio: Dr. Kovila P.L. Coopamootoo is a Newcastle University Research Fellow. Her research focuses on  user-centered privacy and security, and involves a deep understanding users and their privacy and security practices. This includes their attitudes, concerns, perceptions, emotions, socio-demographics, and other drivers of behaviour and technology use. She is also particularly interested in user groups with specific needs and vulnerabilities, and in developing social, collaborative practices for protection and safety online.

 Please feel free to forward to others who might be interested. 

 UK-SPS is an inter-university seminar series on cyber security and privacy. Seminar details are also advertised on our website, calendar and Twitter, and recordings will be available on our YouTube Channel afterwards. 

Last modified: Tue, 27 Jul 2021 10:18:37 BST