Abstract
Digital contact tracing applications (CTAs) have been one of the most widely discussed technical methods of controlling the COVID-19 outbreak. The effectiveness of this technology and its ethical justification depend highly on public acceptance and adoption. This study aims to describe the current knowledge about public acceptance of CTAs and identify individual perspectives, which are essential to consider concerning CTA acceptance and adoption. In this scoping review, 25 studies from four continents across the globe are compiled, and critical topics are identified and discussed. The results show that public acceptance varies across national cultures and sociodemographic strata. Lower acceptance among people who are mistrusting, socially disadvantaged, or those with low technical skills suggest a risk that CTAs may amplify existing inequities. Regarding determinants of acceptance, eight themes emerged, covering both attitudes and behavioral perspectives that can influence acceptance, including trust, privacy concerns, social responsibility, perceived health threat, experience of and access to technologies, performance expectancy and perceived benefits, and understanding. Furthermore, widespread misconceptions about the CTA function are a topic in need of immediate attention to ensure the safe use of CTAs. The intention-action gap is another topic in need of more research.
Highlights
The year 2020 is doomed to be marked in human history by the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic
This study aims to describe the current knowledge about public acceptance of contact tracing applications (CTAs) and identify individual perspectives, which are essential to consider concerning CTA acceptance and adoption
This study aims to identify critical resources that describe the current knowledge about public acceptance for COVID-19 CTAs and explore individual perspectives that may influence the acceptance and adoption of these systems
Summary
The year 2020 is doomed to be marked in human history by the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. CTA systems architecture can be centralized or decentralized In the former design, a central database and server store and process user data, whereas in the latter design, users’ personal devices manage most of the data storing and processing, so that the central server plays only a minor role in the contact-tracking process [11]. Another important technical feature is what data sources are used for contact tracing; the standard design options are Bluetooth-based proximity data exchanged between phones when they are near each other and GPS-based location data to determine the phone’s location and movements [12]. The third design decision concerns how much identifying data is stored in the central repositories if this data is secured with encryption or open and authorized to access the collected data [11,12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
