Past Projects
List of Past Projects:
"I chose to fight, be brave, and to deal with it": Threat Experiences and Security Practices of Pakistani Content Creators
Details:
-
Principal Investigators (PI(s)):
- Dr. Maryam Mustafa
- Dr. Katharina Krombholz
- Published At: Usenix Security 2024
-
Abstract:
- “Content creators are exposed to elevated risks compared to the general Internet user. This study explores the threat landscape that creators in Pakistan are exposed to, how they protect themselves, and which support structures they rely on. We conducted a semi-structured interview study with 23 creators from diverse backgrounds who create content on various topics. Our data suggests that online threats frequently spill over into the offline world, especially for gender minorities. Creating content on sensitive topics like politics, religion, and human rights is associated with elevated risks. We find that defensive mechanisms and external support structures are non-existent, lacking, or inadequately adjusted to the sociocultural context of Pakistan.”
Pakistani Teens and Privacy - How Gender Disparities, Religion and Family Values Impact the Privacy Design Space
Details:
-
Principal Investigators (PI(s)):
- Dr. Maryam Mustafa
- Dr. Katharina Krombholz
- Published At: ACM CCS 2023
-
Abstract:
- “The understanding of how teenagers perceive, manage, and perform privacy is less well-understood in spaces outside of Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic countries. To fill this gap, we interviewed 30 teens to investigate the privacy perceptions, practices, and experienced digital harms of young people in Pakistan, a particularly interesting context as privacy in this context is not seen as an individual right or performed within an individualistic framework but instead is influenced by a combination of factors including social norms, family dynamics, and religious beliefs. Based on our findings, we developed four personas to systematize the needs and values of this specific population and then conducted focus groups with co-design activities to further explore privacy conflicts. Among other things that confirm and extend existing theories on teens’ privacy practices and perceptions, our findings suggest that young women are disproportionately impacted by privacy violations and the harms extend beyond themselves to include their families.”