Kiyoshi Murata
   Department   Undergraduate School  , School of Commerce
   Position   Professor
Language English
Publication Date 2017/09
Type Academic Journal
Peer Review Peer reviewed
Title Following Snowden: A Cross-cultural Study on the Social Impact of Snowden's Revelations
Contribution Type Co-authored (first author)
Journal Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society
Journal TypeAnother Country
Publisher Emerald Publishing
Volume, Issue, Page 15(3),pp.183-196
Author and coauthor Kiyoshi Murata, Andrew A. Adams and Ana María Lara Palma
Details Purpose: This paper aims to introduce a cross-cultural study of the views and implications of Snowden's revelations about NSA/GCHQ surveillance practices, undertaken through surveys administered in eight countries. The aims and academic and social significance are explained, and justification is offered for the methods used.

Design/methodology/approach: Pilot surveys were deployed in two countries, following which revised versions were deployed in eight countries (including expanded collection in the original pilot countries). Quantitative analysis of suitable answer sets (Yes/No; Likert scales) and quantitative analysis (interpretation of free text answers) were performed.

Findings: Through the pilot survey studies conducted in Japan and Spain, the academic significance and meaningfulness, as well as social significance of the project, were confirmed.

Practical implications: The results of the cross-cultural study are expected to contribute not only to the advance of surveillance study but also to the enhancement of ordinary, non-technical people's awareness of state surveillance and their proactive approach to protecting their own rights and dignity from covert intrusion by government agencies.

Originality/value: This paper clarifies the importance and methodologies of investigating the social impact of Snowden's revelations on youngsters' attitudes toward privacy and state surveillance in a cross-cultural analysis framework. Although a few other studies have assessed the impact of Snowden's revelations, these have mostly focussed on the USA, so this is the only study to date considering that impact on a broad international scale, using highly similar surveys to ensure comparability.
DOI 10.1108/JICES-12-2016-0047
ISSN 1477-996X
URL for researchmap https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-12-2016-0047