Online Privacy and Digital Submissiveness: A Study of the Internet Audience

Abstract

The technological nature of the Internet predetermines the transparency of many practices of online behaviour and actualises the issue of privacy in the online environment. The article presents the results of an analysis of attitudes towards online privacy in Russian society. The empirical basis is provided by the data of the study conducted in Moscow in 2021. It is shown that the practice of the Russian Internet audience widely includes actions related to leaving personal data online. The majority of respondents (84%) share the view that access to their personal data, their processing and use should be based on the consent of users. Such attitudes are combined with low awareness of the essence of the personal data use, and of the experience of their illegitimate use by third parties. Apparently, these circumstances were the reason that more than 60% of respondents indicated their concerns about security issues in the field of online privacy. Privacy in the digital environment is influenced by the technological evolution of media, on the one hand, and political, economic and sociocultural factors of their use, on the other hand. In this regard, on the Russian empirical basis, the theoretical and applied concepts of the paradox of digital privacy and digital obedience, known in the world literature, were verified. A contradiction is revealed between the widespread concern about the confidentiality of personal data and low efforts to ensure their protection. In the group concerned about the security of personal data, 30% of users did not take any steps in this direction in their real online behaviour. As part of the study, manifestations of the phenomenon of digital obedience, associated with the installation of the “inevitability” of accepting the new coordinates of privacy that the Internet world brings with it, were recorded. The lack of action to protect personal data (with a general concern about this issue) is associated with a lack of confidence in the protection of online privacy. Overall, 40% of respondents across the array agreed that “it’s too late to protect person al data, all information about me is already on the Internet.” With the help of regression analysis, indicators were identified that correlate with such assessments. The results of the work can be used in the development of optimal solutions to ensure the security of personal data - an area where the interests of the individual, society, business, and the state collide today.