Privacy and security concerns as major barriers for e‐commerce: a survey study

TLDR

Online users’ lack of confidence in IT stems largely from privacy and security concerns, which are the primary deterrent to e‑commerce purchases. The study aims to investigate IT users’ privacy and security concerns to reach a consensus on their relative importance. Surveying 158 participants, the authors ranked privacy, security and threats, impersonation/forged identity, children protection, e‑mail safety, and censorship as the top concerns. Results confirm that privacy and security concerns are the main barrier to online shopping, and that firms addressing these issues are more likely to succeed.

Abstract

The public lack of confidence in online information technology (IT) is not merely about security of value, but also about trust in the information society. Privacy and security concerns are the number one reason Web users are not purchasing over the Web. Proposes to investigate the privacy and security concerns of IT users in order to establish a consensus among them. Uses data from 158 participants to come to a conclusion that the following major concerns (in the descending of importance) exist: privacy, security and threats, impersonation and forged identity, children protection, e‐mail safety, and censorship. The results also show that privacy and security concerns are the main impediment to shopping on the Internet. The implication is that the successful organizations will be those who expend their resources and efforts to ensure that IT users’ concerns are adequately addressed.