The Global Privacy Frontier: Bridging User Expectations and AI in Mental Health Technology

Abstract

This study examines privacy concerns in AI-driven mental health apps through the lens of Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory, utilizing qualitative research of consumer opinions on Google Play Store. It explores how global consumers articulate privacy concerns, experience boundary turbulence in online conversations, and exhibit culturally oriented privacy expectations in this high-stakes emerging tech arena. Results indicate that users are most likely to voice concerns about control and transparency of data, with ambiguous privacy policies raising suspicion. Boundary turbulence narratives, e.g., improper use of data, are most directly related to loss of trust and app abandonment, highlighting critical challenges for the digital health industry worldwide. Reviews paint enormous cultural variations in perspectives on privacy, guided by concerns like stigma of mental illness and diverse regional regulatory environments, underscoring the profound societal interests and global challenges these technologies pose. These findings underscore the relational and affective nature of online privacy, particularly in sensitive settings like mental health treatment. The study highlights the need for open, user-oriented, and culture-sensitive privacy designs that facilitate robust trust as well as long-term participation, thereby guiding responsible AI innovation and development across the new media landscape in the context of such new global challenges.

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