In machines we trust: do interactivity and recordability undermine democratic technologies?

Abstract

When information and communication technologies are deployed for development (ICTD), a necessary condition for success is their acceptance and adoption. Recipients should trust a given ICT and believe in its welfare potential. However, certain features of modern ICTs, such as collecting and storing user information, may serve to undermine user trust in ICTs. We examine this possibility by investigating whether technological affordances of the electronic voting machine (EVM) trigger user perceptions about the machine and affect faith in democratic institutions. A survey (N=179) of Indian voters in New Delhi on the day of general elections in 2014 reveals that interactivity and recordability are negative predictors of trust in EVMs. Interactive machines were also considered less cool and less dependable. Theoretical and design implications of the findings are discussed.