Promise not fulfilled: FinTech, data privacy, and the GDPR

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Abstract

This article analyzes how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has affected the privacy practices of FinTech firms. We study the content of 276 privacy statements respectively before and after the GDPR became binding. Using text analysis methods, we find that the readability of the privacy statements has decreased. The texts of privacy statements have become longer and use more standardized language, resulting in worse user comprehension. This calls into question whether the GDPR has achieved its original goal—the protection of natural persons regarding the transparent processing of personal data. We also link the content of the privacy statements to FinTech-specific determinants. Before the GDPR became binding, more external investors and a higher legal capital were related to a higher quantity of data processed and more transparency, but not thereafter. Finally, we document mimicking behavior among FinTech industry peers with regard to the data processed and transparency.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number33
Journal Electronic Markets: The International Journal on Networked Business
Volume33
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

dblp journals/electronicmarkets/DorfleitnerHK23
unpaywall 10.1007/s12525-023-00622-x
ORCID /0000-0002-0576-7759/work/142239319
Scopus 85161979480
WOS 001032868100001
Mendeley 76e778ca-b9e7-3d8e-8ef3-26b41e548d30

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Keywords

  • Data privacy, FinTech, Financial technology, General Data Protection Regulation, Privacy statement, Textual analysis

Library keywords