Privacy and attitudes towards Internet-based selection systems: A cross-cultural comparison

This paper examines perceptions of privacy and how they relate to reluctance to submit employment-related information over the Internet. In addition, possible cross-cultural differences between the US and Belgium regarding these constructs and the role of Internet knowledge are investigated. Based on theories of privacy and cross-cultural differences, a survey methodology was applied to test several hypotheses. Results suggest that privacy considerations may affect reluctance to use an Internet-based selection system. Moreover, as expected, some differences were observed between US and Belgian respondents. Respondents possessing a higher self-rated knowledge of the Internet were less concerned that employment-related data submitted over the Internet would fall into the wrong hands.