A recently published statistic by the Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) shows that 77% of the Dutch population does not want IoT devices, either because of their price, convenience or security risk. 25% of the Dutch population is afraid for their privacy and the security when using IoT devices, which caused them to not use them. However, in the recent years, the implementation of IoT has been tremendous, not only in the homes, but also in the medical and manufacture sectors. It thereby raises the question on why 77% still decides to not use these types of devices. Especially for those who do not use them because they are afraid for their privacy and do not want to share their data.
Research shows us that there are several variables that influence our decision to share personal data. Some are: Perceived privacy Risk, Perceived security Risk, Perceived Trust, Perceived Convenience and information sensitivity.
These variables can have a positive or negative impact, but there is a gap in research on the hierarchy of importance of these variables. Only one research has been conducted into that subject, the research only took Perceived convenience, Perceived Trust and Information Sensitivity into account.
Some results were as to be expected, however, some else were really astonishing, the willingness of sharing data increases when the user perceives trust or great convenience. And, when the convenience is perceived high, all the other variables do not matter anymore. If someone experiences great convenience, the product they use for that convenience can be from un highly untrusted source and the information that is given can be of high sensitivity.
That means that if you are a product owner or project manager, you should increase the perceived Convenience, in that way you have the lowest chance of people not being willing to share personal data.
References
Cbs: “nederland loopt voorop met slimme apparaten thuis” – iot journaal, https://www.iotjournaal.nl/cbs-nederland-loopt-voorop-met-slimme-apparaten-thuis, (Accessed on 17/09/2022).
K. Rose, S. Eldridge, and L. Chapin, The internet of things: An overview,”The internet society (ISOC), vol. 80, pp. 1-50, 2015.
N. F. Awad and M. S. Krishnan, The personalization privacy paradox: An empirical evaluation of information transparency and the willingness to be profiled online for personalization,” MIS quarterly, pp. 13-28, 2006.
Internet of things (iot) market (2021-26): Industry size, growth, trends – mordor intelligence. [Online]. Available: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry- reports/internet- of- things- moving- towards -a-smarter-tomorrow-market-industry.
J. S. van Winkelhoff, Why do we share data? On the reasons that lead to sharing personal data with IoT services, 2022.
