Description
The increasing use of mobile devices has been accompanied by the development of mobile cloud-computing applications (MCC apps) that are multi-platform applications sending the users’ data to the cloud. Despite the benefits of MCC apps, they raise privacy concerns because the users’ information is sent to remote locations where users lack direct control. This paper studies how individuals weigh the privacy costs and benefits of disclosing personal information to MCC apps and proposes a model. Analyses of data collected through an online survey with 439 responses provides insights into the predictors of disclosing personal information to MCC apps. The results show that the main inhibitor of disclosing personal information to MCC apps is perceived privacy concerns and the main enablers are perceived usefulness and trust. Moreover, perceived ease of use does not directly affect the disclosing of information to MCC apps. The paper’s theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Nikkhah, Hamid Reza and Sabherwal, Rajiv, "Mobile Cloud-Computing Applications: A Privacy Cost-Benefit Model" (2017). AMCIS 2017 Proceedings. 11.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2017/InformationSystems/Presentations/11
Mobile Cloud-Computing Applications: A Privacy Cost-Benefit Model
The increasing use of mobile devices has been accompanied by the development of mobile cloud-computing applications (MCC apps) that are multi-platform applications sending the users’ data to the cloud. Despite the benefits of MCC apps, they raise privacy concerns because the users’ information is sent to remote locations where users lack direct control. This paper studies how individuals weigh the privacy costs and benefits of disclosing personal information to MCC apps and proposes a model. Analyses of data collected through an online survey with 439 responses provides insights into the predictors of disclosing personal information to MCC apps. The results show that the main inhibitor of disclosing personal information to MCC apps is perceived privacy concerns and the main enablers are perceived usefulness and trust. Moreover, perceived ease of use does not directly affect the disclosing of information to MCC apps. The paper’s theoretical and practical implications are discussed.