Work

“My phone must be listening!”: Peoples’ surveillance beliefs around devices “listening” to offline conversations in the US, the Netherlands, and Poland

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Previous research has shown that internet users believe that electronic devices are listening to their offline conversations (i.e., e-eavesdropping) for commercial purposes. Such beliefs are important to study because they could shape media effects and human behavior (e.g., limiting free speech around devices). We conducted a preregistered cross-sectional survey in the United States, Netherlands, and Poland ( N = 886) to examine internet users’ surveillance beliefs and evaluate the factors related to such beliefs. The results showed that respondents had different surveillance beliefs, including e-eavesdropping, priming, coincidence, and digital traces. US respondents were most likely to believe in e-eavesdropping. A higher frequency of conversation-related advertising and shorter time perception were associated with e-eavesdropping beliefs. Moreover, in all three countries, we found a positive relation between conspiracy mentality and e-eavesdropping belief. The findings indicate the importance of contextual and individual factors and could help further understand privacy boundaries and enhance the ethical responsibility of Big Data collection strategies.

Source: Big Data & Society

DOI: 10.1177/20539517251337102

Authors: Claire M Segijn, Joanna Strycharz, Anna Turner, Suzanna J Opree

Institutions: University of Minnesota, University of Amsterdam, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Language: English

Topic: Privacy, Security, and Data Protection

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,000