Privacy Perceptions in Sensor-Powered Smart Vehicle Cabins

TL;DR

This study explores how owners and non-owners perceive privacy in sensor-equipped smart vehicle cabins through interviews, highlighting key influencing factors and design considerations.

Contribution

It provides novel insights into privacy perceptions of different user groups in smart vehicle environments, informing future privacy-preserving design strategies.

Findings

Identified factors influencing privacy preferences for owners and non-owners

Certain privacy factors impact one group more than the other

Discussed design implications for balancing privacy needs

Abstract

As car cabins evolve with the integration of diverse sensors, traditional car cabins are transforming into smart environments. This shift raises important questions about how privacy is understood and managed in such spaces. In this work, we investigate privacy perceptions from the perspectives of both vehicle owners (i.e., people who purchase and own cars) and non-owners (i.e., people who temporarily use cars, such as family members, friends, or renters). Through semi-structured interviews with eighteen participants, we identified key factors that influence these groups' views on privacy. Our findings reveal factors that commonly influence privacy preferences for both owners and non-owners, as well as factors that have a stronger impact on one group over the other. Drawing on these insights, we discuss design implications for future designs to better support and balance the diverse privacy needs of multiple stakeholders in smart car cabins.