Information disclosure willingness and mobile cloud computing collaboration apps: the impact of security and assurance mechanisms
研究了用户为何在隐私担忧下仍向移动云计算协作应用披露信息，并考察了隐私政策和ISO/IEC 27018认证等保障机制对用户感知和披露行为的影响，基于2016-2018年三次调查发现结果不一致。
Purpose In this research, the authors focus on mobile cloud computing (MCC) collaboration apps that are multiplatform and send the users’ data to the cloud. Despite their benefits, MCC collaboration apps raise privacy concerns, as the users’ information is sent to the cloud where users lack direct control. This study aims to investigate why users disclose information to MCC apps despite privacy concerns and examine the effect of security and assurance mechanisms (i.e. privacy policies and ISO/IEC 27018 certification) on users’ perceptions and information disclosure. Based on three surveys conducted in 2016 ( n = 515), 2017 ( n = 505) and 2018 ( n = 543), this study finds mixed results regarding the relationships among security, assurance mechanisms, utilitarian benefits and information disclosure. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted three scenario-based surveys in the USA in 2016 ( n = 515), 2017 ( n = 505) and 2018 ( n = 543). Findings This study finds mixed results of relationships among security, assurance mechanisms, utilitarian benefit and information disclosure. Originality/value With proliferation of MCC apps, the investigation of how users make privacy decision to disclose personal information to these apps is sparse. This study, for the first time, investigates whether the signals of assurance mechanism decrease users’ privacy concerns. This study also examines the interplay between security and privacy within information disclosure behavior. Finally, this study was conducted in 3 years to enhance the generalizability and robustness of findings.