On Being an Expert: Habitus as a Lens for Understanding Privacy Expertise

Abstract

How do privacy experts and lay persons differ? We investigate this question using data about the use of privacy-enhancing technologies and strategies from 128 surveys and 17 follow-up interviews with two populations: privacy experts (i.e., privacy researchers and professionals) and privacy laypersons. Findings reveal that both experts and laypersons use common privacy strategies, but experts employ a broader range of strategies, favor open source technologies, and possess a more technical understanding of internet privacy risks and technologies such as onion routing and tracking algorithms. We characterize these differences in terms of sociological habitus, where experts and laypersons differ not only in technical skill but also in broader conceptualizations and practices. From this characterization, we make recommendations for technology design practices, as well as legal and pedagogical implications, that can help decenter the experiences of privacy experts and accommodate privacy laypersons' preferences and habits.