Public perception of UAS privacy concerns: a gender comparison

While much research has examined engineering and practical uses of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), there have been very few studies that have examined privacy concerns that the public may have towards UASs. Even less research has been conducted on how gender and type of UAS mission may affect privacy concerns. This paper examines gender differences in privacy concerns across a wide array of UAS mission types. We also examine potential mediators that explain why females and males differ in their privacy concerns. A total of 1067 participants were presented with various hypothetical UAS missions across four studies. They were asked to provide privacy concerns scores and related information. The results of all four studies conclude that there are distinct gender differences in UAS privacy concerns. These differences are mediated by various factors. The researchers conclude that future UAS operation should take into consideration the public’s privacy concerns and that these concerns are different for females and males.