Public Acceptance of COVID-19 Related Location Tracking Technology While in Quarantine: Evidence from South Korea

Abstract

Introduction: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, public policy debate has been increasingly focusing on developing and implementing new disease prevention measures based on tracking of geographical location, in particular during the quarantine period. Limited studies have so far investigated possible public acceptance of such measures. Methods: We analyzed a sample data of 1,000 respondents from the 2021 Korean Social Science Data Center using descriptive statistics and logistic regression modelling. The outcome variable was the binary variable measuring the public acceptance of COVID-19 related tracking devices for people subjected to quarantine, explanatory variable included socio-economic characteristics and subjective perception measures. Results: The results suggest that subjective factors, such as perceived likelihood of virus contraction (OR=1.78) and severity of the disease (OR=2.21), rather than socio-economic factors, are key determinants of public acceptance of COVID-19 related location tracking technology. Elderly participants in the middle socio-economic class have shown the highest acceptance rate for tracking device implementation Conclusion: Although the use of location tracking devices has been increasing exponentially, there is still limited understanding in terms of public acceptance of such devices. The results of this study contribute to identifying such determinants, this contributing to policy design related to COVID-19.

Keywords

• COVID-19, location tracking, digital health, disease prevention, personal information, South Korea