Public Attitudes to the Sharing of Personal Information in the Course of Online Public Service Provision

Abstract

The research focused on the following question: What are attitudes of different members of the New Zealand general public towards the collection, management, and sharing of personal information in the course of online public service provision? In order to find answers to this research question we used a qualitative research approach to empirically explore attitudes of a variety of New Zealanders in their service relationships with New Zealand public sector organisations. The research was conducted from March 2010 until August 2010, using the following research methods: • A review of international and New Zealand-based literature in the area of information sharing, privacy, and the management of citizen identity information in e-government service environments; • Semi-structured interviews with New Zealand public sector staff about the characteristics, conditions, and strategic developments in online integrated public service provision in the New Zealand public sector; • Ten focus groups with representatives of the New Zealand general public.