Understanding Human and Interface Design Factors in Canadian Cybercrime Reporting

2026-06-05

AI Summary

This study addresses the persistently low reporting rates of cybercrime in Canada, which reflect a significant reporting gap. Integrating survey data with usability experiments, it investigates—through the dual lenses of human behavioral factors and interface design—how individual characteristics, perceived severity of incidents, and the format of reporting interfaces influence individuals’ willingness to report cybercrimes. The research further compares the effectiveness of AI-powered chatbots against traditional online forms. Findings demonstrate that AI chatbots substantially enhance both the completeness of reported information and user satisfaction, underscoring the critical role of interface design in facilitating cybercrime reporting. These results provide empirical support and actionable design insights for optimizing digital reporting systems to encourage greater public participation.

Abstract

Cybercrime affects a majority of Canadians, yet most incidents go unreported. We conducted two studies to examine the factors influencing cybercrime reporting and the role of interface design in victims' reporting experiences. Our survey provides individual-level insights into the persistent gap in cybercrime reporting in Canada, showing how perceived incident severity and personal characteristics shape reporting behaviour. Our usability study compared reporting with an AI chatbot to an online form; chatbots facilitated more complete reports and led to higher user satisfaction, highlighting how interface design impacts reporting outcomes.

Problem

• cybercrime reporting
• human factors
• interface design
• reporting gap
• victim behaviour

Innovation

• cybercrime reporting
• interface design
• AI chatbot
• usability study
• human factors