Work

User Understanding of Privacy Permissions in Mobile Augmented Reality: Perceptions and Misconceptions MHCI037

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) applications leverage various sensors to provide immersive user experiences. However, their reliance on diverse data sources introduces significant privacy challenges. This paper investigates user perceptions and understanding of privacy permissions in mobile AR apps through an analysis of existing applications and an online survey of 120 participants. Findings reveal common misconceptions, including confusion about how permissions relate to specific AR functionalities (e.g., location and measurement of physical distances), and misinterpretations of permission labels (e.g., conflating camera and gallery access). We identify a set of actionable implications for designing more usable and transparent privacy mechanisms tailored to mobile AR technologies, including contextual explanations, modular permission requests, and clearer permission labels. These findings offer actionable guidance for developers, researchers, and policymakers working to enhance privacy frameworks in mobile AR.

Source: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

DOI: 10.1145/3743738

Authors: Viktorija Paneva, Verena Winterhalter, Franziska Augustinowski, Florian Alt

Institutions: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität der Bundeswehr München

Language: English

Topic: Privacy, Security, and Data Protection

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Award: G6143720330