Privacy-Related Behaviour Change When Using Smart Home Technologies in Different Social Contexts : Critical Information Infrastructures, Winter Term 23/24

Background: The concept of smart homes has evolved with advancements in the field of the Internet of Things (IoT) and ubiquitous computing. While the technology is now installed in many living spaces, privacy issues posed by smart home devices have not been fully explored in recent years.
Objective: This research paper aims to analyse user behaviour in response to privacy implications in smart homes.
Methods: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews are conducted to collect data for our research. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse patterns within the data.
Results: It is discovered that individuals are conscious of privacy risks in their personal spaces and adjust their behaviour to maintain a sense of security. In contrast, concerns in public settings are less significant. Additionally, the social environment in which participants find themselves contributes to different privacy behaviours especially regarding conversation topics and privacy protection measures.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight that it is important for developers and policymakers to consider diverse privacy expectations in different social contexts. ... mehrWe suggest a move towards more transparent and user-centric approaches in the design and regulation of smart homes.