Abstract
This study examines university students’ perceptions of data privacy in Japan and the United States, focusing on their awareness, trust in institutions, and understanding of institutional data use policies. Based on a survey of 1,200 Japanese university students and a comparative analysis with EDUCAUSE data from the United States, we found key differences in attitudes toward data privacy. Japanese students generally reported higher levels of trust in their institutions’ handling of personal data and a greater familiarity with data privacy policies. In contrast, U.S. students demonstrated more doubt and uncertainty about how their universities use personal data, with a higher proportion responding “don’t know” when asked about institutional practices. These differences may be attributed to variations in educational approaches, policy transparency, and cultural attitudes toward data governance. Our findings emphasize the need for more transparent communication regarding institutional data use and the implementation of targeted educational programs to enhance students’ understanding and trust in both contexts. Future research should explore the effectiveness of such initiatives in shaping students’ attitudes toward data privacy.
Author Information
Hitoshi Inoue, Nakamura Gakuen University, Japan
Yuki Amano, Teikyo University, Japan
Takahiro Sumiya, Hiroshima University, Japan
Takahiro Tagawa, Chikushi Jogakuen University, Japan
Paper Information
Conference: IICE2025
Stream: Higher education
This paper is part of the IICE2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Inoue H., Amano Y., Sumiya T., & Tagawa T. (2025) A Comparative Study of University Students’ Awareness of Data Privacy: Japan and the USA ISSN: 2189-1036 – The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 153-159) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2025.14
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2025.14
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