Masterarbeit Nevin Hochsam López: The Link between Privacy and Misinformation – A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract: In today’s digital world, privacy invasions and the proliferation of misinformation have become ubiquitous issues. Numerous incidents have demonstrated their far-reaching effects on our digital lives and society at large. These challenges raise a critical question: Is there a link between privacy and misinformation? Insights on this connection may aid the development of mitigation strategies addressing both concerns. This thesis seeks to provide answers. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic literature review (N=123) to gain an in-depth understanding how current research contextualizes privacy and misinformation. Our analysis shows that the interplay of privacy and misinformation spans across various topics (e.g. social media, artificial intelligence, encryption, COVID-19, laws and regulations) with varying characteristics depending on the context. Based on our findings, we identified several multifaceted links, such as: efforts to protect privacy and curb misinformation conflict in certain scenarios. Conversely, misinformation can, in some instances, help to protect privacy. Additionally, our results suggest that Big Tech companies may profit from both privacy invasions and misinformation. This thesis concludes by proposing approaches for future research, aiming to address privacy and misinformation concerns simultaneously and thereby, potentially contributing to a more secure digital environment in the future.

Betreuer: Tom Biselli

Prüfer: Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter