Role based privacy applied to context-aware mobile applications

Sharing of personal information in context-aware applications challenges the application design since users wish to restrict and control the information access according to in which situation and with whom the information is shared. We introduce a mobile application, Privacy Studio, which enables the user to define different information sharing levels for distinct user groups. This is done by defining privacy profiles, which are applied in certain usage situations to define information sharing access rights to different target groups. We have demonstrated Privacy Studio mobile application with a mobile phone, and evaluated and assessed the users' perceptions in relation to information sharing and privacy with user tests. Positive feedback related to the efficient and easy way of information sharing was gained, whereas potential privacy risks were seen as a major concern with the application.