Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Examining Public Understanding and Perceptions of Data Practices in Smart Cities

Smart cities are often presented as modern, sustainable, and efficient environments that enhance safety and convenience through advanced technologies. However, their heavy reliance on data collection raises significant privacy concerns. As technology evolves faster than public awareness, questions emerge about whether these cities adequately protect individuals’ data. This study explores residents’ understanding of smart cities and their perceptions of data collection and sharing. In this study, we conduct semi-structured interviews with 19 residents across two countries to examine how people conceptualise smart cities and interpret the collection, processing, and sharing of their data. Our analysis shows that residents hold fragmented and often inaccurate mental models of smart-city infrastructures; view data practices as simultaneously beneficial and risky; and lack meaningful clarity about data flows, retention, and institutional responsibility. Participants considered consent important yet mostly infeasible given the pervasive and unavoidable nature of smart-city data collection. We also identify culturally grounded differences in trust, privacy sensitivities, and expectations of governance across the two contexts. Our findings challenge assumptions embedded in current smart-city governance and consent models and point to the need for transparent, accountable, and contextually attuned data practices.