Problems and risks in protecting personal data in the context of the surveillance society

The purpose of this paper is to study, within the context of the 'surveillance society', the problems and risks associated with the use of personal data at various knowledge levels, including the individual awareness level, e-government applications knowledge level, e-pulse application knowledge level, social media applications knowledge level, online shopping perceptions, online banking services knowledge level, and MOBESE (CCTV) cameras knowledge level. The research universe consists of people living in 81 provinces within the borders of Turkey. The research sample consists of a total of 273 participants, 121 women and 152 men, located within the provincial borders of Mugla. As far as data collection tools are concerned, we used the Personal Information Form to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, and the Problems and Risks in the Protection of Personal Data Questionnaire to identify the problems and risks encountered in the protection of personal data within the context of the surveillance society. All statistical analyses were carried out using the IBM SPSS 25.0 program, and statistical data analysis methods were utilized to examine the relationship among research variables. In terms of data analysis methods, we used descriptive statistical methods, difference tests, exploratory factor analysis, and parametric test methods based on skewness and kurtosis coefficients. We also carried out internal consistency analysis, reviewed descriptive analysis results, and used independent t-tests in comparisons between two populations, and ANOVA in comparisons among three populations. As a result of the research effort, we found that there is a relationship between "surveillance society" and "individual awareness level, e-government applications knowledge level, e-pulse application knowledge level, social media applications knowledge level, online shopping perceptions, online banking services knowledge level, MOBESE (CCTV) cameras knowledge level". In addition, we encountered statistical significance (p<0.05) in the Problems and Risks Encountered in the Protection of Personal Data Survey and its sub-dimensions in terms of "individual awareness level, e-government applications knowledge level, e-pulse application knowledge level, social media applications knowledge level, online shopping perceptions, online banking services knowledge level, MOBESE (CCTV) cameras knowledge level" and "gender, age, level of education, marital status, monthly income, profession, and daily internet usage".