Beyond the Privacy–Security Trade-Off: How Data Sensitivity, Time, and Trust Shape Individuals’ Willingness to Disclose Information

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-609-3_57How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Data Intrusiveness; Temporal Dynamics; Generational Differences; Legitimacy

Abstract

This paper examines how individuals’ willingness to trade privacy for security is influenced by factors beyond the traditional model. Using data from the Pew Research Center and other authoritative institutions, the study uses descriptive statistics and comparative analysis to explore the impact of data intrusiveness, generational differences, temporal decay, and perceived legitimacy on individuals’ privacy preferences. The findings of this essay show that individuals’ willingness to trade privacy for security is not static, but rather depends on the sensitivity of data, changes in urgency over time, trust in data-collecting institutions, and age-related differences in attitudes toward privacy. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of privacy decision-making by integrating multiple contextual and psychological variables into a unified analytical framework. It also provides empirical implications for policymakers seeking to balance security measures with public acceptance in modern societies. The results of this essay challenge the traditional trade-off model, reflecting that people’s willingness to give up privacy for security is dynamic and context-dependent.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tianqi Hu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/04
TI  - Beyond the Privacy–Security Trade-Off: How Data Sensitivity, Time, and Trust Shape Individuals’ Willingness to Disclose Information
BT  - Proceedings of the 2026 3rd International Conference on Public Relations and Media Communication (PRMC 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 539
EP  - 547
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-609-3_57
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-609-3_57
ID  - Hu2026
ER  -