What is trust in a pandemic? Exploring the role of trust in technology, data, and good governance as part of pandemic response.
Abstract as pdf
Corresponding Author:
Katrina Petersen
Trilateral Research United Kingdom
katrina.petersen@trilateralresearch.com
Author(s):
Susannah Copson1
1Trilateral Research, Susannah.Copson@Trilateralresearch.Com, GBR
Trust binds together everything we do: relationships, actions, and expectations of others. In the extraordinary circumstances of a pandemic, being able to establish and sustain public trust is imperative in managing risk perception, maintaining public confidence, encouraging compliance with government measures, and grappling with the pathogen spread. Trust, however, is enacted and does different work when between individuals, communities, with public authorities, or a given technology. Building on research conducted within the EC funded H2020 project STAMINA, our presentation aims to unpick what trust means in a pandemic, how it is constantly subject to negotiation and change, and how this impacts risk communication in a pandemic response.
We submit that trust is all important if technology is to be adopted safely and effectively. We note that much of what pandemic planners and public(s) are asking of tools, data, and related protocols and policy is tied closely to building and sustaining trust. For example, while a surveillance tool might be useful for public health purposes, it could damage the fragile trust relationship between the public and authorities if it is felt that people’s privacy has been invaded. The ability to collect future data or ensure future public interactions are at stake within that trust.
We explore a set of indices of trust, noting the importance of varying social relationships to each of these and how these help or hinder policy responses or technology design. For example, particularised, generalised and institutional trust have distinct functionalities and features. Although intrinsically linked, each form of trust differentially impacts how publics or individuals engage with the response. Conversely, structural distrust has been blamed on vaccine hesitancy or unwillingness to download a contact tracing app, when reasons are often much more complex. Focusing too much on distrust as the predominant cause makes other elements or concerns (accessibility, privacy, disadvantage, inequalities) invisible.
We argue that when new technologies or policies are adopted for pandemics, those making the decisions need to consider trust as a key societal impact and benefit. We suggest that more research tools – from social media analytics to citizen deliberations -- need to be developed around the dynamic, negotiated, situations, and contextual nature of trust and distrust in pandemics. Building trust and social impact together with technology and policy design catalyses the effect of health messages, and much work remains to be done to support this in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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