Users’ Privacy Concerns in IoT based Applications

In recent years user privacy has become an important aspect in the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) services due to their privacy invasive nature. However, there has been comparatively little research so far that aims to understanding users’ notion of privacy in connection with IoT. In this work, we aim to understand how and if contextual factors affect users’ privacy perceptions of IoT environments. To ascertain privacy perceptions, we deployed a public online survey (N=236) and contacted interviews (N=41) to explore factors that could have an influence. Although a lot of the participants identified privacy risks in IoT and rated the collected information items with high privacy ratings, we find that quite a large number of participants would still decide to have the offered IoT service if they find it useful and practical for their daily lives despite the infringement on their privacy. We conclude by highlighting and analyzing the qualitative comments of the participants and suggest possible solutions for the identified issues