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.

中文翻译：

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信息披露意愿与移动云计算协作应用：安全保障机制的影响

目的

在这项研究中，作者专注于多平台的移动云计算 (MCC) 协作应用程序，并将用户数据发送到云端。尽管有好处，但 MCC 协作应用程序引发了隐私问题，因为用户的信息被发送到用户无法直接控制的云中。本研究旨在调查用户为何不顾隐私问题向 MCC 应用程序披露信息，并检查安全和保证机制（即隐私政策和 ISO/IEC 27018 认证）对用户感知和信息披露的影响。基于在 2016 年 ( n  = 515)、2017 ( n  = 505) 和 2018 ( n = 543)，这项研究发现关于安全性、保证机制、功利性利益和信息披露之间的关系的结果好坏参半。

设计/方法/方法

本研究于 2016 年 ( n  = 515)、2017 年 ( n  = 505) 和 2018 年 ( n  = 543)在美国进行了三项基于情景的调查。

发现

本研究发现安全性、保证机制、功利性利益和信息披露之间关系的混合结果。

原创性/价值

随着 MCC 应用程序的激增，有关用户如何做出向这些应用程序披露个人信息的隐私决定的调查很少。本研究首次探讨了保证机制的信号是否降低了用户的隐私担忧。本研究还考察了信息披露行为中安全和隐私之间的相互作用。最后，这项研究在 3 年内进行，以提高研究结果的普遍性和稳健性。