Analyzing Data Privacy in Digital Surveillance: A Focus Group Report

This report presents an analysis of data privacy and digital surveillance, based on a focus group simulation. The study investigates the role of information privacy protection in the context of digital surveillance and personal data on online platforms, particularly during the pandemic. The report includes a literature review discussing the importance of data privacy, the impact of internet and social media, and the increasing reliance on digital platforms. The methodology section outlines the qualitative research approach, data collection methods, and sampling techniques. The results section presents key findings from the survey, including user behavior regarding device usage, internet consumption, data sharing, and the use of check-in applications during the pandemic. The discussion section interprets these findings, highlighting the awareness of data privacy and the implications of digital surveillance. The conclusion summarizes the key takeaways and emphasizes the importance of data security for internet users. The report is supported by a list of relevant references.

FOCUS GROUP
SIMULATION AND
CRITICAL REFLECTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................4
Research type...............................................................................................................................4
Research Approach......................................................................................................................5
Research Philosophy....................................................................................................................5
Data collection.............................................................................................................................5
Sampling......................................................................................................................................5
Data analysis................................................................................................................................5
Reliability and validity.................................................................................................................5
RESULTS........................................................................................................................................5
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

TITLE
To analyse the role of information privacy protection in digital surveillance towards
personal data on online platforms during pandemic.
INTRODUCTION
Information privacy is a branch to the data security which is aimed for a proper handling,
including and consent of notice and regulatory practices online. This research is about analysing
the importance of data privacy on digital platforms for the users specially during pandemic. In
this research different research tools and techniques are going to be used for collection of data to
make arguments on this study.
Aim
The aim of this study is to identify the needs of information privacy protection in digital
surveillance towards user data on different digital platforms.
Objectives
 To assess the role of internet and social media platforms for current users.
 To analyse the significance of sharing various forms of data while using digital platform
during the pandemic.
 To analyse the importance of data security for meeting the privacy rights for internet
users.
 To recommend strategies for enhancing data security over digital surveillance for making
internet safer.
LITERATURE REVIEW
According to the study of Jokisch and et.,al., (2020) providing young people with the
range of benefits related to information and opportunities has been the key role of internet. It has
helped people make social connections and support the network which otherwise wouldn't have
been possible. Hayat, Kojuri and Mitra Amini, (2020) added that interest has helped the society
to overcome distances and build confidence and social skills. Internet over the years has been the

key source of information and for many people the source of education during the pandemic.
Social media has been the platform which at present is responsible for providing all the news an
information.
As per the view of Simpson and et.,al., (2020) the data sharing has increase a lot over the
online platforms. Websites and digital applications are designed in a way that they can gather the
most types of data and breach the privacy of the users. Peek, Sujan and Scott, (2020). explained
how online platforms are able to collect information about, ethnicity, nationality, political
beliefs, religious beliefs, genetic data, biometric data, physical or mental health, key passwords,
financial position, personal relations, physical and mental abilities. The collection of this data is
for the purpose selling it from business to business.
The study of Farsi and et.,al., (2020) elaborated that as the society is more
technologically reliant more than even before. In the future the reliance over the internet for
humans is going to increase. It has been said that the identification of the public threat which are
to be posted on social media accounts like social security numbers and credit card information
needs to be protected. Noguerol and Branch, (2018) supported this, as the stealing of data has
increased over the internet it is now more important to enhance the cyber security for more
advanced and much more effective data privacy technology to be introduced.
METHODOLOGY
Research type
There are two major types of research types qualitative and quantitative research type.
This research will use the qualitative research as it is effective for assessing the importance of
data privacy. As the use of digital surveillance is theoretical concept qualitative investigation is
more efficient.
Research Approach
For the evaluation of this study over data privacy on the internet the inductive approach
has been selected for the analysation and the qualitative assessment of the data.
Research Philosophy
In research methodology there are two different types of philosophy interpretive and
positivism (Mohajan, 2018). For this research the interpretive philosophy has been used for the
evaluation qualitative study of data security.

Data collection
It can be said that the assessment of addressing the research objective related to the
gathering of data has been done from both the sources such as primary and secondary. In this
research the conduction of 10 random people have been done with the means of questionnaire in
order to develop a brief thesis.
Sampling
In the selection of the respondents for this research appropriate sample is required for the
suitable outcome. For fulfilling the purpose of this survey random sampling technique has been
taken.
Data analysis
The analysation of the responses which are collected from the respondents the research
will employ a thematic perception test technique. It will help in the analysation of the qualitative
data effectively. It will also take into consideration the responses from the different themes
which are prepared.
Reliability and validity
In order to ensure the validity aspect of the research papers of the articles which are
published after the period of 2018 are taken. In addition to that only account copyright protected
sources of secondary data which is presented as the reliability aspects has been selected.
RESULTS
Theme 1: Most people have atleast 2 digital devices which can be used for internet.

According to the survey question it has been found out that most of the people use atleast
2 devices in the daily usage. It shows that the amount of information which these individuals
share over the internet is twice as high.
Theme 2: Users spend more than 4 hours a day on the internet.
As per the results of this question it was found that the in current society the people are
very much dependent on the use of internet for their daily activities. This time might include
study time or the use of social media for the connecting with other over the internet.

Theme 3 : Most people do not care about their information getting shared.
From this analysation it was found that most people are either not aware about their data
being stolen or they don't bother about it. This is the result of lack of awareness about negative
affects of data being stolen by different companies.
Theme 4: All the users share their check-in information when entering a public space.

It has been found that during the pandemic all the users in the survey shared their location
whenever there entered any public space. This explains how the digital platforms are able gather
the location data for all the users during pandemic due to security reason during the pandemic.
Theme 5: Use of check-in application is extremely important during the pandemic.
According to the results of these question I was able identify that during pandemic the
check-in application were very important as it helped the government to tract those which are
infected. Hence, sometimes sharing information can also be beneficial for the users.
Theme 6: Digital spaces might not afford the digital civic rights.

Digital spaces is what is displayed on the screen of the users (How to get Internet users to
share more personal data?, 2019). According to this question results most of the people are not
actually aware of digital spaces displaying any forms of digital rights. Therefore it can be said
that there are times when the information about the users are stole through the digital platforms.
DISCUSSION
From the above study it was found that information shared on the digital platforms were
considered to be very useful for the people specially during the pandemic. However, according to
this study it was found that digital platforms are responsible for obtaining personal information
from the users which the users are not aware of while sharing.
CONCLUSION
Form the above research it can be concluded that data security is very important for
modern users of the internet as it helps them to protect their personal information from being
stolen without concept through digital platforms.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Farsi, M., and et.,al., 2020. Cloud computing and data security threats taxonomy: A review.
Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems. 38(3). pp.2517-2527.
Hayat, A.A., Kojuri, J. and Mitra Amini, M.D., 2020. Academic procrastination of medical
students: The role of Internet addiction. Journal of Advances in Medical Education &
Professionalism. 8(2). p.83.
Jokisch, M.R., and et.,al., 2020. The role of internet self-efficacy, innovativeness and technology
avoidance in breadth of internet use: Comparing older technology experts and non-
experts. Computers in human behavior. 111. p.106408.
Mohajan, H.K., 2018. Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects.
Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People. 7(1). pp.23-48.
Noguerol, L.O. and Branch, R., 2018. Leadership and electronic data security within small
businesses: An exploratory case study. Journal of Economic Development,
Management, IT, Finance, and Marketing. 10(2). pp.7-35.
Peek, N., Sujan, M. and Scott, P., 2020. Digital health and care in pandemic times: impact of
COVID-19. BMJ Health & Care Informatics. 27(1).
Simpson, S., and et.,al., 2020. Disease X: accelerating the development of medical
countermeasures for the next pandemic. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 20(5). pp.e108-
e115.
Online
How to get Internet users to share more personal data?, 2019[Online]. Available through:
<https://www.intotheminds.com/blog/en/how-to-get-internet-users-to-share-more-
personal-data/>