Digitisation processes in the public sector have led to an increase in innovative approaches for better service delivery using information and communication technology. Citizens, however, often have reservations towards e-government efforts due to concerns regarding data protection (DP) and data security (DS). This article is based on a mixed-methods design consisting of a media analysis and an online survey of 1000 respondents from the UK and Germany, which investigates the conception of DP and DS from the citizens’ point of view. Results demonstrate that citizens do not fully understand the terminology used in newspaper articles concerning DP and DS. Moreover, findings show that DP and DS are of great importance to citizens. However, the perceived relevance of DP and DS varies between services, being strongest for online banking. Compared to the German citizens surveyed, the UK citizens displayed greater concerns about disclosing personal data online. Despite some differences, however, findings across both samples indicate a common lack of understanding of the two concepts DP and DS. The resulting citizen concept of DP and DS can help to mediate between politics, technology and the public in the discourse of e-government initiatives and the requirements for DP and DS. We argue that citizens’ understanding of DP and DS is a prerequisite for governments to adequately address citizens’ concerns regarding e-government initiatives.

公共部门的数字化过程导致使用创新方法的增加，这些创新方法可以使用信息和通信技术更好地提供服务。但是，由于对数据保护（DP）和数据安全（DS）的担忧，公民通常对电子政务工作持保留态度。本文基于一种混合方法设计，包括媒体分析和对来自英国和德国的1000名受访者的在线调查，该调查从公民的角度调查了DP和DS的概念。结果表明，公民不完全理解报纸上有关DP和DS的术语。此外，研究结果表明，DP和DS对公民非常重要。但是，DP和DS的相关性在服务之间有所不同，这对于在线银行而言最为明显。与接受调查的德国公民相比，英国公民对在线披露个人数据的担忧更大。尽管有一些差异，但是，两个样本的发现都表明人们普遍缺乏对DP和DS这两个概念的理解。由此产生的公民对DP和DS的概念可以帮助他们在讨论电子政务举措以及DP和DS的要求时在政治，技术和公众之间进行调解。我们认为，公民对DP和DS的理解是政府充分解决公民对电子政务举措的关注的前提。由此产生的公民对DP和DS的概念可以帮助他们在讨论电子政务举措以及DP和DS的要求时在政治，技术和公众之间进行调解。我们认为，公民对DP和DS的理解是政府充分解决公民对电子政务举措的关注的前提。由此产生的公民对DP和DS的概念可以帮助他们在讨论电子政务举措以及DP和DS的要求时在政治，技术和公众之间进行调解。我们认为，公民对DP和DS的理解是政府充分解决公民对电子政务举措的关注的前提。