Privacy concerns and remedies in mobile recommender systems (MRSs)

Abstract

A mobile recommender (or recommendation) system (MRS) is a type of recommendation system that generates recommendations for mobile users in a mobile Internet environment. An MRS collects users’ information through users’ mobile devices via inbuilt sensors, installed mobile apps, running applications, past records etc. Although collecting such data enables MRSs to construct better user profiles and provide accurate recommendations, it also infringes users’ privacy. This study intends to provide a comprehensive review of privacy concerns associated with data collection in MRSs. This study makes three important contributions. First, it synthesizes the literature on sources of data collection in MRSs. Second, it provides insights into privacy concerns associated with data collection in MRSs. Third, it offers insights into how these privacy issues can be addressed.