Psychological factors shaping public responses to COVID-19 digital contact tracing technologies in Germany

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has seen one of the first large-scale uses digital contact tracing to track a chain infection and contain spread virus. new technology posed challenges both for governments aiming at high effective uptake citizens weighing its benefits (e.g., protecting others’ health) against potential risks loss data privacy). Our cross-sectional survey with repeated measures across four samples in Germany ( $$N = 4357$$ N=4357 ) focused on psychological factors contributing public adoption tracing. We found that acceptance privacy-encroaching granting government emergency access people’s medical records or location tracking data) decreased over course pandemic. Intentions use apps—hypothetical ones Corona-Warn-App launched June 2020—were high. Users non-users differed their assessment benefits, knowledge underlying technology, reasons download not app. Trust app’s perceived security belief effectiveness emerged as playing key role adoption. incorporate our findings into behavioral framework provide policy recommendations.