towards an empirical measure for assessing public attitudes regarding government cybercrime countermeasures
The paper describes the preliminary methodological outcomes and findings from a long-term, exploratory research program on cybercrime countermeasures designed to isolate behavioral or demographic correlates associated with public acceptance or rejection. Specifically, the study is assessing the differential magnitude of cyber threat awareness, as well as the differential perceptions of the threat among different subgroups in the American populace. In other words, how would different segments of the American public (e.g., men, women, ethnic groups, economic class, computer users versus non-computer users) respond to the idea of cybercrime countermeasures of varying scope and intensity? The study outcomes will empirically demonstrate the strength of general public support for government-sanctioned and controlled cybercrime countermeasures and will ascertain the social, economic, or demographic variables that may influence differential public opinion. In the final analysis, the research will provide a data-based approach for beginning efforts to navigate the balance between complex cyber security needs and public fears about "Big Brother" trampling on their civil liberties (as was evidenced after the Patriot Act was signed into law). A long-term goal of the research is to develop a behavioral rating scale that isolates personal, demographic, and related "ecological" variables that contribute to favorable or non-favorable views of Cybercrime countermeasures. The final product will be a well-conceptualized and carefully-constructed behavioral rating scale that meets acceptable standards of scientific rigor. The significance of the problem is clear to the cyber community, but how is it perceived by the public-at-large? The problem has salient implications for the United States related to American politics, national defense capability, cybercrime and terror responses, communication systems and networks, energy, surveillance and GPS tracking systems, and homeland security.
cyber security human factors governmental policy