Deceptive acts and their response as a socio-technical system

Socio-technical systems theory recognises that any system is made up of sub-parts that connect people, process, information, and technologies that share in certain assumptions and norms. As a core premises, a socio-technical system shall only evolve effectively and safely if there is alignment and shared understanding of the social and technical aspects that form as interdependent parts of the system. Human factors connects with these theories in striving to make these interdependent parts work more favourably for humans who operate within these complex systems. Deception performed by international organised crime is one form of a complex socio-technical system.These adversaries rely upon many enabling technologies and processes to achieve mass deception at scale. It is obvious to IDCARE when engaging with many thousands of victims that they have been unwitting participants in a much broader socio-technical deception system. Not one cause is often presented as to how a community member has come to be deceived. It is quite often a combination of many actors and elements across the deception sub-systems. This research priority acknowledges the complexity of the socio-technical deception system and encourages researchers to consider the following research questions:

RP4.1 How are different forms of complex deception better understood through the application of human factors methods?

RP4.2 Through the application of human factors methods, such as Event Analysis of the Systemic Teamwork, System Theoretic Accident Modelling and Processes, and Accident Modelling, what are the best intervention opportunities that can better detect and respond to complex and at-scale forms of deception?

RP4.3 How can actors across the deception response system enhance just-in-time interventions and gauge their success through the application of human factors methods?

RP4.4 By looking at emerging dual use technologies that may enable deception and criminal exploitation of personal information (such as generative AI, neurotechnology, technology automation), what can be discovered through the application of human factors methods in better predicting the risks and anticipating response needs?

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