A Gender Perspective on GDPR and Information Privacy

Abstract

With the introduction of The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, European citizens were granted stronger privacy protection. Despite privacy and GDPR being frequent topics of discussion, many consumers lack knowledge on how personal data are harvested for business purposes, and they are unaware of their rights. Drawing on a larger survey conducted in a Norwegian university college, this study investigates gender differences in privacy behaviour (n=444). We offer three insights. The results revealed that (1) respondents’ concern for privacy does not differ across gender, but men claimed to experience slightly more control over their personal data compared to women. (2) Exercising privacy rights were comparable across gender as women and men reported the same inclination to act on rights granted by GDPR. (3) Willingness to share information in return for benefits depended on the information in question. Men and women agreed in their willingness to exchange name and e-mail. However, women were less willing than men to give up more sensitive information, yet more willing to give up date of birthday, TV viewing history and shopping history. Our insights bring attention to a possible link between experienced control over own data and willingness to exchange data for benefits, highlighting a potential mediating relationship that could be worthwhile pursuing.