Internet Users, Privacy Concerns and Attitudes towards Government Surveillance - An Exploratory Study of Cross-Cultural Differences between Italy and the United States

This study examines cross-cultural differences in individual’s privacy concerns and attitudes towards government surveillance as related to e-commerce use for Italy and the United States. We argue that for both cultures the user’s decision to make a purchase is influenced by privacy concerns, perceived need for security provided by the government and the balancing concerns for government intrusion. The empirical model was tested using LISREL structural equation modeling. To better understand the differences across the two cultures fro privacy perceptions and attitudes toward government, we incorporate dimensions from two of the most influential cultural theories – Hofstede’s (2003) individualism/collectivism, and Fukuyama’s (1995) theory of trust and social capital. The results support the hypotheses of the study in terms of direction and relative magnitude.