Privacy in multimedia communications: Protecting users, not just data

As the use of ubiquitous multimedia communication increases so do the privacy risks associated with widespread accessibility and utilisation of data generated by such applications. Most invasions of privacy are not Intentional but due to designers inability to anticipate how this data could be used, by whom, and how this might affect users. This paper addresses the problem by providing a model of user perceptions of privacy In multimedia environments. The model has been derived from an analysis of empirical studies conducted by the authors and other researchers and aids designers to determine which information users regard as private, and in which context. It also identifies trade-offs that users are willing to make rendering some privacy risks acceptable. To demonstrate how this model can be used to assess the privacy implications of multimedia communications in a specific context, an example of the models application for a specific usage scenario is provided.