The Privacy Paradox: Personal Information Disclosure Intentions versus Behaviors
Abstract
Impelled by the development of technologies that facilitate collection, distribution, storage, and manipulation of personal consumer information, privacy has become a “hot” topic for policy makers. Commercial interests seek to maximize and then leverage the value of consumer information, while, at the same time, consumers voice concerns that their rights and ability to control their personal information in the marketplace are being violated. However, despite the complaints, it appears that consumers freely provide personal data. This research explores what we call the “privacy paradox” or the relationship between individuals’ intentions to disclose personal information and their actual personal information disclosure behaviors.
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The phenomenon reflects the privacy paradox where consumers often express privacy concerns but are still less likely to disclose their personal information.
“This phenomenon reflects the 'privacy paradox' where consumers often express privacy concerns but are still less likely to disclose their personal information (Norberg et al., 2007).”
From Feeling Watched: A Phenomenological Exploration of Consumer Discomfort and Data Privacy Concerns in E-Commerce Personalized Email Marketing (2025) · cites this paper as Norberg et al., 2007
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“…reflects the ‘privacy paradox’ where consumers often express privacy concerns but are still less likely to disclose their personal information (Norberg et al., 2007 One of the most troubling experiences for consumers was receiving unsolicited marketing messages on private channels like…”
- Authors
- NORBERG, P. A., HORNE, D. R., & HORNE, D. A.
- Affiliations
- Quinnipiac University (US)
- Providence College (US)
- ORCID
- HORNE, DAVID A.
- Venue
- Journal of Consumer Affairs
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-03-06
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 100-126
- ISSN
- 0022-0078 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-6606
- OpenAlex
- W1991246983
- Cited by
- 1,526
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 122 · 2025: 102 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 133 · 2022: 128 · 2021: 158 · 2020: 136 · 2019: 121 · 2018: 105 · 2017: 84 · 2016: 68 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 50.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Consumer Affairs (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Privacy-Preserving Technologies in Data
- Keywords
- privacy paradox, personal information disclosure, disclosure intention, disclosure behavior, consumer privacy, personal data, privacy policies
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