Public-Sector Adoption of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies

Authors

  • Jonathan Rogers Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge (current affiliation) Author
  • Paz Irarrázabal González Department of Public Law, University of Chile (current affiliation) Author

Keywords:

privacy-enhancing technologies, public sector, data governance, privacy, innovation

Abstract

Background: Public institutions increasingly manage responsibilities connected with privacy-enhancing technologies, but the quality of implementation can vary markedly across organizations and jurisdictions.

Objective: We investigated the implementation of arrangements concerning privacy-enhancing technologies and identified organizational and regulatory factors linked to policy effectiveness and the public sector.

Methods: Survey data were collected from 245 relevant officials, professionals, service users, or regulated actors using measures of implementation quality, capacity, procedural clarity, transparency, and perceived effectiveness. Descriptive and adjusted regression analyses identified correlates of stronger implementation.

Results: Responses concerning privacy-enhancing technologies were complete for 228 participants. Of these, 62% reported consistent practice and 15% experienced substantial procedural or capacity barriers. Even after adjustment for organization size and jurisdiction, role clarity, staff capability, and formal guidance were associated with stronger performance.

Conclusion: Taken together, the results indicate that outcomes related to privacy-enhancing technologies are shaped by operational governance as well as formal rules. Accordingly, effective information governance depends on turning formal data or records obligations into routine, auditable administrative practice.

Study design: agency adoption survey.

Publication history: Originally published in print on 15 June 2025, Volume 5, Article 5. Online abstract record added on 16 September 2026. Full-text PDF will be added when the digital galley is ready.

Author Biographies

  • Jonathan Rogers, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge (current affiliation)

    Current designation: University Associate Professor.

    Current affiliation: Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

    Current author information supplied for the 2026 digital archive.

  • Paz Irarrázabal González, Department of Public Law, University of Chile (current affiliation)

    Current designation: Assistant Professor.

    Current affiliation: Department of Public Law, University of Chile, Chile.

    Current author information supplied for the 2026 digital archive.

issue 5

Published

2025-06-15

Issue

Vol. 5 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Jonathan Rogers, Paz Irarrázabal González

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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