Data Privacy Concerns Using mHealth Apps and Smart Speakers: Comparative Interview Study Among Mature Adults

Abstract

Background: New technologies such as mobile health (mHealth) apps and smart speakers make intensive use of sensitive personal data. Users are typically aware of this and express concerns about their data privacy. However, many people use these technologies although they think their data are not well protected. This raises specific concerns for sensitive health data.

Objective: This study aimed to contribute to a better understanding of data privacy concerns of mature adults using new technologies and provide insights into their data privacy expectations and associated risks and the corresponding actions of users in 2 different data contexts: mHealth apps and smart speakers.

Methods: This exploratory research adopted a qualitative approach, engaging with 20 mature adults (aged >45 years). In a 6-month test period, 10 (50%) participants used a smart speaker and 10 (50%) participants used an mHealth app. In interviews conducted before and after the test period, we assessed the influence of data privacy concerns on technology acceptance, use behavior, and continued use intention.

Results: Our results show that although participants are generally aware of the need to protect their data privacy, they accept the risk of misuse of their private data when using the technology. Surprisingly, the most frequently stated risk was not the misuse of personal health data but the fear of receiving more personalized advertisements. Similarly, surprisingly, our results indicate that participants value recorded verbal data higher than personal health data.

Conclusions: Older adults are initially concerned about risks to their data privacy associated with using data-intensive technologies, but those concerns diminish fairly quickly, culminating in resignation. We find that participants do not differentiate between risky behaviors, depending on the type of private data used by different technologies.

Keywords: data privacy concerns; mHealth app; mature adults; privacy paradox; smart speaker; smartphone.