Study on e-government information misuse based on General Deterrence Theory

This paper examines four types security countermeasures and their influence on information misuse or abuse behaviors of government internal officials´ in the context of e-government information sharing. A research model was developed based on the General Deterrence Theory. Analysis of the data collected in a survey of 21 government agencies in Shanghai with 124 questionnaires who are specialized in the processes of government information sharing, including information collection and storage, information processing, information transfer and information usage. First, the findings indicated that static information security policies only can take effects when the policies are conveyed to employees clearly and the punishment is carried out well. Second, security awareness practice is one of the most important measures for internal officials. Third, when employees realize the organization is monitoring their information system behaviors and know consequence of information misuse or abuse behavior, the countermeasures can play more effects. Fourth, preventative software is still the strongest measure for e-government security.