“How fear of crime affects needs for privacy & safety”: Acceptance of surveillance technologies in smart cities

Abstract

These days, surveillance technologies are a key component of smart and networked cities preventing or detecting crime and giving the residents a sense of safety. On the one hand, safety perceptions can be supported by adequate surveillance technologies (e.g., cameras), however on the other hand, the systematic use of surveillance technologies undermines individual privacy needs. In this empirical study, we explore users' perceptions on safety and privacy in the context of surveillance systems in urban environments. Using an online survey, 119 users were requested to indicate their acceptance regarding different types of surveillance technologies, differentiating perceived benefits and barriers as well as safety and privacy needs. Also, we investigate acceptance differences towards surveillance technologies at various locations (private and public). In this paper, we especially explore the impact of individual perceived crime threat on the acceptance of surveillance technologies and on the needs for privacy and safety.