An experiment on different messages related to cybersecurity and responsibility
Cyber crises are complex in terms of responsibility and management. In one study, researchers examined how different messages affect the extent to which citizens feel a sense of personal responsibility.
DURCOM has conducted a message experiment examining the impact of different responsibility framings from the municipality in the context of cyber crises. What difference does it make if the municipality assumes full responsibility for resolving the situation – for example, if payment systems go down? Or, conversely, if all responsibility is transferred to citizens, requiring them to manage on their own?
The study shows that:
- Messages in which authorities take full responsibility do not reduce citizens’ awareness of their own responsibility.
- Messages emphasizing shared responsibility or individual responsibility increase citizens’ sense of accountability.
- However, none of the messages lead to a greater willingness among citizens to prepare themselves.