Information security risk evaluation of smart cities in China: A PT-VIKOR approach

Abstract

Information security risk (ISR) is an inherent challenge in smart city (SC) due to extensive information technology integration, which could undermine urban stability and reduce residents' quality of life. This study shifts the focus from technology-centered solutions to a socio-techno synergy SC ISR research framework. It develops a non-technical deterministic approach that evaluates ISR through urban residents' subjective perceptions based on information ecology and prospect theory. Using data from 28 SCs in China, the PT-VIKOR model was proposed alongside a synthetic indicator system to analyze ISR with an emphasis on social livability over purely technical metrics. Our findings identify information technology and infrastructure as the most influential ISR dimensions, reveal that ISR levels are higher in northeastern and western regions and lower in eastern areas, exhibiting a spatial clustering characteristic. Based on these insights, we propose differentiated policies to address ISR according to local risk characteristics. High-ISR areas should focus on enhancing urban planning, information integration, and technological research, while low-ISR areas could optimize existing information infrastructure and urban governance to improve resident well-being. This article provides urban planners and policymakers with a socio-techno synergy perspective on context-focused ISR management, addressing the limitations of existing research in balancing technological and social perspectives in human-centered SC ISR management, thereby contributing to the development of safe and livable SCs.