Health vs. privacy? The risk-risk tradeoff in using COVID-19 contact-tracing apps

• Published in: Technology in society Vol. 67; p. 101755
• Main Authors: Tran, Cong Duc, Nguyen, Tin Trung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Contact-tracing app; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; fsQCA; Health education; Health information; Health promotion; Health risk; Health risks; Minimization; Pandemics; Preventive medicine; Privacy; Privacy risk; Public health; Risk perception; Risk-risk tradeoff; Surveillance; Tradeoffs; User requirements; Contact-tracing app; COVID-19; fsQCA; Risk-risk tradeoff; Privacy risk; Health risk
• ISSN: 0160-791X; 1879-3274; 0160-791X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101755

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact-tracing apps have emerged as reliable tools for public health communication and the promotion of preventative health. However, to function properly, contact-tracing apps require users to provide sensitive information, which has raised concerns about data disclosure, misuse and social surveillance. Little is known about how different types of risk perception simultaneously hinder and motivate individuals' engagement in mobile health apps, particularly in the context of a pandemic. Based on the privacy calculus theory and the risk-risk tradeoff concept, this study examined the risk-risk tradeoff model to enhance the understanding of COVID-19 contact-tracing app users’ decision from the perspective of risk minimization. Findings from PLS-SEM and fsQCA revealed that users engage in health risk-privacy risk tradeoff when evaluating and deciding to use the apps. The focal study therefore contributes to the research on privacy calculus theory and calls for a balanced managerial solution to mitigate this tradeoff dilemma. •Different types of risk perception hinder and motivate individuals' engagement in mobile health apps.•Users engage in the tradeoff between health-privacy risks when evaluating and deciding to use COVID-19 contact-tracing apps.•The risk-risk tradeoff model built on the privacy calculus theory and the risk-risk tradeoff concept is confirmed.•The potential use of fsQCA in examining the risk-risk tradeoff phenomenon is discussed.