PRiMMA: Privacy Rights Management for Mobile Applications

The age of Ubiquitous Computing is approaching fast: most people in the UK over the age of 8 carry mobile phones [5], which are becoming increasingly sophisticated interactive computing devices. Location-based services are also increasing in popularity and sophistication [6]. There are many tracking and monitoring devices being developed that have a range of potential applications, from supporting mobile learning to remote health monitoring of the elderly and chronically ill. However, do users actually understand how much of their personal information is being shared with others? In a recently released report from the UK Information Commissioner [7], we are warned that the UK in particular is ‘sleepwalking into a surveillance society’, as ordinary members of the public give up vast amounts of personal information with no significant personal or societal advantage gained. In general, there will be a trade off between usefulness of disclosing private information and the risk of it being misused. This project will investigate techniques for protecting the private information typically generated from ubiquitous computing applications from malicious or accidental misuse. Consider the following two mobile learning scenarios: