Review of the model of technological pragmatism considering privacy and security

Abstract

The model of technological pragmatism assumes awareness that technological development involves both benefits and dangers. Most modern security technologies represent citizens' mass surveillance tools, which can lead to compromising a significant amount of personal data due to the lack of institutional monitoring and control. On the other hand, people are interested in improving crime control and reducing the fear of potential victimization which this framework provides as a rational justification for the apparent loss of privacy, personal rights and freedoms. Citizens' perception on the categories of security and privacy, and their balancing, can provide the necessary guidelines to regulate the application of security technologies in the actual context. The aim of this paper is to analyze the attitudes of students at the University of Belgrade (N = 269) toward the application of security technology and identification of the key dimensions. On the basis of the relevant research the authors have formed assumptions about the following dimensions: security, privacy, trust in institutions and concern about the misuse of security technology. The Prise Questionnaire on Security Technology and Privacy was used for data collection. Factor analysis abstracted eight factors which together account for 58% of variance, with the highest loading of the four factors that are identified as security, privacy, trust and concern. The authors propose a model of technological pragmatism considering security and privacy. The data also showed that students are willing to change their privacy for the purpose of improving security and vice versa.

Keywords

• security technology
• crime
• privacy
• Serbia
• students