The Impact of Privacy Laws on Everyday Life in Switzerland: A Social Perspective
Henzelin, Kenan Rukundo (2025)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025050910240
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025050910240
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores the impact of privacy laws on everyday digital life in Switzerland from a social perspective, with a particular focus on the relationship between digital rights, public awareness, and personal empowerment. In a society where digital interactions are omnipresent and data collection is increasingly pervasive, understanding the societal role and reception of privacy regulations such as the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the European GDPR is more important than ever.
The aim of this research is to assess how individuals perceive, understand, and interact with privacy laws, and to identify whether these laws effectively support digital sovereignty at both governmental and personal levels. The study also investigates the extent to which the general population feels equipped to exercise control over their digital presence and data.
The theoretical framework introduces the core concepts of privacy, data protection, digital literacy, trust in digital systems, and digital sovereignty. These notions are contextualized within current literature and examined through a sociotechnical lens, with references to scholars such as Zuboff and Fratini, who highlight the growing tension between individual autonomy and corporate or governmental data control.
In the empirical part, the author combines a quantitative survey targeting the general population with a qualitative interview conducted with a cybersecurity expert in the financial sector. The survey investigates levels of awareness, behavior, and attitudes related to privacy rights and digital sovereignty, while the expert interview provides insights into the practical challenges and ethical considerations of implementing data protection in a heavily regulated industry.
The results indicate a significant gap between legal provisions and public understanding. While privacy is widely valued in theory, there is limited practical engagement with legal rights and digital tools. Trust in institutions and major tech platforms is fragile, and many respondents express the need for clearer information and more accessible means to protect their data.
Based on these findings, the thesis proposes several improvements: integrating digital rights into education, simplifying access to data rights, promoting privacy friendly alternatives, and fostering collaboration between public institutions, academia, and civil society. These suggestions are aimed at reducing the disconnect between regulation and lived experience, and at strengthening both individual and collective digital sovereignty.
The reliability and validity of the research are considered through its methodological design and mixed methods approach. The study contributes to the broader discourse on digital citizenship by highlighting the importance of social understanding and engagement in the successful implementation of privacy legislation.
The aim of this research is to assess how individuals perceive, understand, and interact with privacy laws, and to identify whether these laws effectively support digital sovereignty at both governmental and personal levels. The study also investigates the extent to which the general population feels equipped to exercise control over their digital presence and data.
The theoretical framework introduces the core concepts of privacy, data protection, digital literacy, trust in digital systems, and digital sovereignty. These notions are contextualized within current literature and examined through a sociotechnical lens, with references to scholars such as Zuboff and Fratini, who highlight the growing tension between individual autonomy and corporate or governmental data control.
In the empirical part, the author combines a quantitative survey targeting the general population with a qualitative interview conducted with a cybersecurity expert in the financial sector. The survey investigates levels of awareness, behavior, and attitudes related to privacy rights and digital sovereignty, while the expert interview provides insights into the practical challenges and ethical considerations of implementing data protection in a heavily regulated industry.
The results indicate a significant gap between legal provisions and public understanding. While privacy is widely valued in theory, there is limited practical engagement with legal rights and digital tools. Trust in institutions and major tech platforms is fragile, and many respondents express the need for clearer information and more accessible means to protect their data.
Based on these findings, the thesis proposes several improvements: integrating digital rights into education, simplifying access to data rights, promoting privacy friendly alternatives, and fostering collaboration between public institutions, academia, and civil society. These suggestions are aimed at reducing the disconnect between regulation and lived experience, and at strengthening both individual and collective digital sovereignty.
The reliability and validity of the research are considered through its methodological design and mixed methods approach. The study contributes to the broader discourse on digital citizenship by highlighting the importance of social understanding and engagement in the successful implementation of privacy legislation.