Global information privacy infringement index (GPI)

Abstract

The proliferation of the Internet has attracted much attention with regard to the leakage of online private/personal information, as exposed information is being used for criminal purposes. In this regard, a criterion for information privacy must be clarified for governments and other public institutions as well as private enterprises in order to curtail information privacy violations and criminal activity. In order to apply such an information privacy criterion, we develop and present in this study a global-scale information privacy infringement index, known as the Global information Privacy Infringement index (GPI). The GPI examines the level of information privacy infringement by measuring the factors such as types, records, sources, characteristics, and actions based on infringed records for each country. The findings of this study indicate that Unites States, United Kingdom, and South Korea are the three countries with the greatest instances of information privacy infringements among all investigated countries. Our approach can be a useful guide for governments, the public and private enterprises in their efforts to enhance information privacy.