Untangling the relationship between surveillance concerns and acceptability

In this study, a two-stage least squares regression analysis of data from the Pew Research Center's Privacy Panel Survey sought to untangle the relationships among surveillance concern, its antecedents, and the acceptability of surveillance as an attitudinal outcome. The analysis assumes the endogeneity of surveillance concerns, drawing from theoretical arguments. Surveillance concerns, as predicted by empirical antecedents (perception of privacy control, past negative experiences, surveillance awareness, and information sensitivity), significantly influence surveillance acceptability. Significant exogenous determinants of surveillance acceptability include perceived public benefit and self-identified ideological stance.