Unpacking creepiness: a study on smart home sensor surveillance
Sujay Shalawadi, Dimitrios Raptis, Florian Echtler · Behaviour and Information Technology · 2025
The paper investigates the subjective experience of creepiness in smart home devices, focussing on privacy concerns surrounding unauthorised data access, invasive personalisation, and covert surveillance. The study consisted of scenario development and validation followed by semi-structured interviews. Findings reveal how users perceive smart home interactions as increasingly intrusive, particularly in relation to the temporality of data management where non-consensual targeted advertisements based on recent activities contribute to heightened discomfort. Key findings show that perceptions of creepiness are highly individual, shaped by users' past experiences and expectations of technology. Despite recognising privacy risks, participants often prioritise the convenience these devices offer, leading to a paradox where users continue to engage with technologies that make them feel uncomfortable. We highlight the need for designers to implement hybrid privacy solutions that combine manual and automated controls to help users manage their privacy settings more effectively. By offering real-time notifications, increasing transparency in data collection practices, and making privacy controls more accessible, designers can mitigate the normalisation of perceived creepiness associated with smart home devices. This study contributes to the broader conversation on affective privacy, emphasising the emotional impact of smart home surveillance on users and providing insights for more privacy-conscious design strategies.