Perception of Surveillance: An Empirical Study in Turkey, USA, and China
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Devrim Aydin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jane K. Miller, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yao Xiaojun, Prof. Dr. Dogan Nadi Leblebici, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mete Yildiz

Abstract
Information Technology (IT) practices of governments today is under scrutiny due to some malpractices causing violation of citizens’ privacy. Especially, surveillance practices such as CCTV surveillance and surveillance of Internet and telephone traffic are seen as the most prevalent threats to civil rights and liberties. With a crosscultural survey covering three countries including Turkey, USA, and China, this study tries to find out how university students perceive various surveillance practices (CCTV, telephone and Internet surveillance) in their country. The survey was conducted with the participation of undergraduate business administration students from Turkey (Hacettepe University), USA (University of Massachusetts), and China (Huazhong Agricultural University). Results indicate that security cameras in campus, workplace, and streets are not perceived as a threat to civil rights and liberties. Nevertheless, surveillance of internet, e-mails and telephones is not positively evaluated by students.

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