I trust not therefore it must be risky: Determinants of the perceived risks of disclosing personal data for e-government transactions

Although it is plausible to assume that the risks of disclosing personal data online are inexorably more prevalent in transactions with commercial organizations than with government organizations, such risks can also thrive in exchanges with the latter. While it is argued that risk perceptions necessitate trust, several studies have also noted that trust in an interaction or an exchange partner could significantly contribute to the reduction of the perceptions of the risks involved in an interaction or an exchange. An Internet-based survey with 208 Internet users from three Dutch cities was conducted to collect the necessary data to test the research hypotheses. Results of the online survey reveal that Dutch Internet users’ trust in a government organization’s ability to protect citizens’ personal data and users’ assessment of the sensitivity of personal data disclosed for e-government transactions are related to the perceived risks of disclosing such data negatively and positively, respectively.

► Trust in government organizations is negatively related to privacy risk perceptions. ► Personal data sensitivity strongly determines privacy risk perceptions. ► Level of Internet experience does not influence privacy risk perceptions.