User acceptance of privacy-ABCs: An exploratory study

Abstract

In this work, we present the first statistical results on users' understanding, usage and acceptance of a privacy-enhancing technology (PET) that is called "attribute-based credentials", or Privacy-ABCs. We identify some shortcomings of the previous technology acceptance models when they are applied to PETs. Especially the fact that privacy-enhancing technologies usually assist both, the primary and the secondary goals of the users, was not addressed before. We present some interesting relationships between the acceptance factors. For example, understanding of the Privacy-ABC technology is correlated to the perceived usefulness of Privacy-ABCs. Moreover, perceived ease of use is correlated to the intention to use the technology. This confirms the conventional wisdom that understanding and usability of technology play important roles in the user adoption of PETs. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.