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“I don't care about cookies!” data disclosure and time-inconsistent users

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  • Abrardi, Laura
  • Cambini, Carlo
  • Hoernig, Steffen

Abstract

Time-inconsistent internet users neglect future privacy costs and release too much data to digital firms. We study how regulation that requires user consent for data processing affects firm profits, user surplus, and welfare, depending on the degree of time inconsistency and on firms' business models. If the firm appropriates sufficiently high profits from data, consent mechanisms increase welfare only if their design facilitates consent refusal and time inconsistency is neither too high nor too low. If firms can make it difficult to opt out, it may be better for society to let the former choose the disclosure level. However, consent policies increase user surplus when time inconsistency is high. Voluntary caps on usage can raise profits by making some users disclose more data.

Suggested Citation

  • Abrardi, Laura & Cambini, Carlo & Hoernig, Steffen, 2024. "“I don't care about cookies!” data disclosure and time-inconsistent users," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:69:y:2024:i:c:s0167624524000349
    DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2024.101112
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Data disclosure; Time inconsistency; Privacy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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