Project description
Data is an essential resource: It forms the basis for various business models in the digital economy and is a central driver of innovation. This holds especially true for personal data.
Before obtaining such data, individuals are usually required to decide on whether they want to disclose their personal data. Against the background of recent research, it remains an open question as to whether and to what extent the willingness to disclose one’s personal data depends on the cultural imprint, the existing legal framework, and processes of decision-making.
The project “Vectors of Data Disclosure” aims to provide insight into these questions by linking perspectives from cultural sciences, business information systems, and law. The researchers strive to identify cultural and regulatory effects that determine whether and how individuals disclose personal data. To this end, they examine the decision-making process by conducting behavioural economic studies and, as a result, create a model of influences and interdependencies. The project team is especially interested in data disclosure from a comparative context – focusing on different legal as well as cultural systems and backgrounds. By conducting this comparative study, the project team aims to acquire insights into the fundamental principles of data disclosure.
These findings will in turn serve as recommendations for stakeholders on how national, supranational, and international legal and regulatory frameworks can be designed and how data-based business models can be used/adapted in and for different (cultural) settings.
Project team

Prof. Dr. Moritz Hennemann M.Jur.
Project Manager, Chair of European and International Information and Data Law, University of Passau (Photo: Sandra Meyndt)

Prof. Dr. Kai von Lewinski
Chair of Public Law, Media Law and Information Law, University of Passau


Prof. Dr. Thomas Widjaja
Chair of Business Informatics with a focus on Business Information Systems, University of Passau

Timo Hoffmann
Research Assistant at the Chair for European and International Information and Data Law, University of Passau

Sebastian J. Kasper LL.M.
Research Assistant at the Chair of Public Law, Media and Information Law, University of Passau

Dr. Tim Kerstges
Research Assistant at the Chair of Public Law, Media and Information Law, University of Passau

Peer Sonnenberg
Research Assistant at the Chair of Public Law, Media and Information Law, University of Passau

Martin Richthammer
Research Assistant at the Chair of Business Informatics with a focus on Business Information Systems, University of Passau

Dr. Veronika Thir
Research Assistant at the Chair of English Language and Culture, University of Passau

Anna-Maria Kipphardt
Research Assistant at the Chair of Criminal Law and Procedure, Criminology and Philosophy of Law, University of Passau
Publications
Conference “Vectors of Data Disclosure”
The corresponding conference volume for the event in June 2022 features perspectives on international data protection law and other factors influencing data pricing decisions by Lemi Baruh, Lothar Determann, Jana Dombrowski, Timo Hoffmann, Martin Richthammer, Daniela Wawra, Thomas Widjaja, Normann Witzleb and Kai von Lewinski.
conference volume
Navigating Global Privacy Legislation
The research team examines various data protection regimes around the globe. It has published eight comprehensive reports on as diverse legal regimes as possible and has thus contributed to the development of a comprehensive map of the world’s data protection regimes.
The map provides an overview of the maze of privacy concepts and offers starting points for further research in the field of harmonisation of data protection and privacy law.
Overview | Country Reports