Rethinking privacy in the Internet of Things: a comprehensive review of consumer studies and theories

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze and synthesize literature on consumer privacy-related behavior and intelligent device-to-device interactions within the Internet of Things (IoT).

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a systematic review using Elsevier’s Scopus database, focusing on studies published in English from 2000 to 2023. The review targeted articles within selected social sciences and business disciplines, specifically concerning consumer behavior in IoT contexts.

Findings

We categorized the privacy literature into three thematic clusters: legislation and policy, business implications and consumer behavior. Within the consumer behavior cluster, our analysis indicates a shift from general Internet and e-commerce privacy concerns prior to 2016, toward issues related to advertising and policy between 2017 and 2018, and increasingly toward pronounced concerns in technological systems, particularly IoT, from 2019 onwards. We identify eight distinct areas of privacy concern within IoT and propose a framework that links antecedents and privacy concerns to subsequent attitudes and behaviors. This framework highlights varying patterns of information disclosure and bridges theoretical constructs with empirical research in IoT privacy.

Originality/value

Originality lies in enhancing the Antecedents-Privacy Concerns-Outcomes (APCO) macro-model by integrating diverse theoretical perspectives on technological and individual-specific antecedents, alongside privacy concerns and beliefs. This comprehensive integration enriches the framework, enabling it to predict and categorize consumer behavior in IoT environments more effectively. The revised model provides a robust tool for understanding privacy-related behavior within the IoT, significantly enriching its theoretical relevance and practical applicability.