Work

Navigating a Changing Privacy Landscape: The Effect of Data Requests on the Acquisition, Retention, and Deletion of Consumers’ Information

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (Article 17) and California Consumer Privacy Act, give consumers the right to request the deletion of their personal information. While researchers have begun to examine the implications of these laws, the effects of different data request options (to provide, keep, or delete information) on consumers’ personal-information-sharing behavior have not been thoroughly studied. Drawing on prior work on autonomy, the authors investigate a new construct, “enactment autonomy.” They demonstrate that data requests can alter perceptions of shared autonomy, influencing feelings of vulnerability and subsequent information-sharing behavior. Six experimental studies, including one behavioral study and a within-paper meta-analysis, provide support for the proposed data request effect as well as boundary conditions related to perceived information sensitivity and the presence of a third party.

Source: Journal of Interactive Marketing

DOI: 10.1177/10949968261417676

Authors: Smriti Kumar, Elizabeth G. Miller, George R. Milne

Institution: University of Mannheim

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: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,400