Urban IoT Sensor Privacy & Acceptance Study

Welcome to this research survey on smart city sensors in public spaces. We are interested in your honest experiences and opinions—there are no right or wrong answers. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you may stop at any time. All responses are confidential, will be anonymized, and reported only in aggregate. Results will be used to inform civic planning and public policy. Estimated time: 8–10 minutes. By continuing, you indicate that you have read and understand the above information and agree to participate.

Do you currently live within the official city limits of your primary municipality?

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

How long have you lived in your current city?

• Less than 1 year
• 1–2 years
• 3–5 years
• 6–10 years
• 11–20 years
• More than 20 years
• Prefer not to say

In the past 12 months, which city-operated sensors have you personally noticed? (Select all that apply)

• Traffic cameras
• Smart streetlights
• Air-quality monitors
• Automated license plate readers
• Gunshot detection sensors
• On-street parking sensors
• Public Wi‑Fi hotspots
• Waste/bin fill sensors
• Other (please specify)
• None of the above
• Not sure

Overall, how supportive or opposed are you to expanding the use of smart city sensors across your city?

How supportive or opposed are you to installing smart city sensors on your block or in your immediate neighborhood?

How concerned are you about privacy risks from data collected by city sensors in public spaces?

What specific privacy risk, if any, worries you most about city sensor data? Please describe briefly.

How much do you trust your city government to manage sensor data responsibly?

How much do you trust private technology contractors to manage sensor data responsibly?

How much do you trust law enforcement agencies to manage sensor data responsibly?

How much do you trust independent oversight bodies (e.g., privacy boards, auditors) to manage sensor data responsibly?

Which safeguards would make you more comfortable with smart city sensor deployments? (Select all that apply)

• Clear public signage at sensor locations
• Short data retention limits
• Independent oversight and audits
• Aggregate/open data only (no raw personal data)
• Data minimization (collect only what is needed)
• Anonymization before storage
• Public transparency reports
• Community co-design and engagement
• Ability to opt out for personal devices where feasible
• Other (please specify)
• None of these would make me comfortable

Please rank these potential uses of city sensor data from most acceptable to least acceptable.

1. Traffic flow optimization
2. Public safety and crime prevention
3. Environmental monitoring (air and noise)
4. Public transit reliability
5. Emergency response
6. Urban planning and maintenance

We'd like to understand your views more deeply. An AI moderator will ask you a few follow-up questions about your experiences and feelings regarding smart city sensors. Please respond as openly as you'd like.

Based on your responses in this survey, please share any additional thoughts or feelings about smart city sensors in your community.

What is your age?

• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65+
• Prefer not to say

How do you describe your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• Less than high school
• High school or equivalent
• Some college / associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Graduate or professional degree
• Prefer not to say

Which best describes your current employment status?

• Working full-time
• Working part-time
• Self-employed
• Unemployed and looking
• Unemployed and not looking
• Student
• Retired
• Homemaker / caregiver
• Prefer not to say

Which part of the city do you primarily live in?

• Central / downtown
• North
• South
• East
• West
• Outside the city
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for participating! Your responses have been recorded and will be used to help inform decisions about smart city sensor programs in your community. If you have questions about this study, please contact [research team email].