ABSTRACT

Digital contact tracing (DCT) has become an efficient method for authorities to curb COVID-19. However, the current public opinion studies on the adoption of DCT primarily focus on Western countries and rarely explore citizen attitudes in Asian contexts where DCT is often mandatory. Moreover, the existing literature extensively explores how privacy concern negates the adoption of DCT without illuminating the solutions to such barriers. To unveil the mechanisms of DCT adoption, this study explores how Singaporeans’ privacy concern, political trust, and technology literacy can influence their attitudes toward TraceTogether (a local DCT program). An analysis of survey data suggests that privacy concern is positively associated with negative attitudes toward DCT. Those with high levels of political distrust also hold negative attitudes toward DCT. Political distrust is also found to positively mediate the relationship between privacy concerns and negative attitudes toward DCT. Finally, moderated mediation findings suggest that the indirect effects of privacy concern on negative attitudes toward DCT via political distrust increase with an increase in technological literacy. Simply put, the indirect effects are stronger for those with higher-tech literacy. We discuss the tension between privacy concerns and public health during the pandemic and propose policy suggestions.

摘要

数字接触者追踪 (DCT) 已成为当局遏制 COVID-19 的有效方法。然而，目前关于采用 DCT 的舆论研究主要集中在西方国家，很少探讨在 DCT 通常是强制性的亚洲背景下的公民态度。此外，现有文献广泛探讨了隐私问题如何否定 DCT 的采用，而没有阐明这些障碍的解决方案。为了揭示 DCT 采用的机制，本研究探讨了新加坡人的隐私问题、政治信任和技术素养如何影响他们对 TraceTogether（当地 DCT 计划）的态度。对调查数据的分析表明，隐私问题与对 DCT 的负面态度呈正相关。那些具有高度政治不信任的人也对 DCT 持消极态度。还发现政治不信任在隐私问题和对 DCT 的负面态度之间的关系中起到了积极的中介作用。最后，适度的调解结果表明，随着技术素养的提高，隐私关注通过政治不信任对 DCT 的负面态度的间接影响增加。简而言之，对于那些具有较高技术素养的人来说，间接影响更大。我们讨论了大流行期间隐私问题与公共卫生之间的紧张关系，并提出了政策建议。简而言之，对于那些具有较高技术素养的人来说，间接影响更大。我们讨论了大流行期间隐私问题与公共卫生之间的紧张关系，并提出了政策建议。简而言之，对于那些具有较高技术素养的人来说，间接影响更大。我们讨论了大流行期间隐私问题与公共卫生之间的紧张关系，并提出了政策建议。