Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Online mass surveillance by governmental organizations isomnipresent. Even though this results in a loss of privacy and further negativeoutcomes for individuals, a majority is justifying mass surveillance.Understanding, why this is the case is among others important for individuals,who want to decrease justification of mass surveillance. Therefore, this studyaims to uncover the factors that drive this justification. Drawing on systemjustification theory we consider mass surveillance to be a political arrangement.Five factors were identified that potentially drive individuals’ justification ofmass surveillance which are among others, perceived privacy control orperceived security. A quantitative study was carried out and the results supportmost of our hypotheses. With our results, we contribute to the privacy-relatedarea in the domain of IS, by indicating that individuals consider masssurveillance not necessarily to be bad and by giving advice on how to alter thelevel of justification.
Authors: Jakob Wirth, Christian Maier, Sven Laumer
Language: German
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2968740246