Outcomes and Affordances: Examining why People use Encryption

Authors

  • Shannon M. Oltmann University of Kentucky

Keywords:

encryption, affordances, privacy, outcomes, civil liberties

Abstract

 This project examined the use of encryption actively enabled by everyday users, such as encrypting one’s hard drive or e-mail. Ninety-six respondents (mostly American males) were interviewed via telephone, e-mail, and instant messaging. Respondents provided unique insights into concerns about data collection and analysis. The findings indicate that encryption’s affordances include inaccessibility and unreadability. Outcomes from these affordances include security, data integrity, anonymity, preventing self-incrimination, stopping surveillance, privacy, and freedom of speech. Respondents were less focused on the affordances of encryption, instead primarily thinking about their desired outcomes. This work argues that future scholarship should consider both affordances and outcomes when analyzing why people use particular technologies and platforms.

Author Biography

Shannon M. Oltmann, University of Kentucky

Shannon M. Oltmann is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky. She obtained her Ph.D. from Indiana University. Her research interests include information ethics, online civil liberties, censorship, intellectual freedom, privacy, and qualitative research methods. She recently published a book, Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries, and her most recent book, The Fight Against Book Bans: Perspectives from the Field, was released in 2023. 

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Published

2023-11-29

Issue

Vol. 17 (2023)

Section

Articles

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