Privacy behaviors after snowden

Abstract

Mass Media Have been reporting on global-scale state surveillance following former NSA contractor Edward J. Snowden's exposure of PRISM in June 2013. Extensive, continuing news coverage makes this revelation a natural experiment. In a longitudinal study from May 2013 to January 2014, I examined the immediate and longer-term effects on Web use in the U.S. I combined evidence of privacy self-protection and behaviors indicating an interest in privacy. Users' interest rose after the PRISM revelation but returned to and even fell below original levels despite continuing media coverage. I found no sustained growth in the user base of privacy-enhancing technologies (such as anonymizing proxies). The worldwide public revelation of PRISM affected individuals' interest less than other breaking news concerning sports and gossip. My results challenge the assumption that Web users would start to care more about their privacy following a major privacy incident. The continued reporting on state surveillance by the media contrasts with the public's quickly faded interest.