User acceptance of digital groundwater technologies: A data governance perspective

This study explores the user acceptance of Internet of Things (IoT) real-time monitoring systems for groundwater management from the perspective of data governance. While user acceptance is widely acknowledged as key to the adoption of digital technologies, existing research often overlooks how data governance structures shape users’ willingness to adopt and use such systems. Following a case study approach and drawing on qualitative, semi-structured interviews with representatives of public and private organisations in the region of Freiburg, Germany, the study examines how issues of openness, accountability, and power influence user acceptance. The findings reveal that, while openness in data sharing can foster transparency, trust, and collaboration, unresolved concerns related to data privacy, security, quality, and ownership function as barriers to adoption. Smaller organisations in particular face challenges in accessing or benefiting from real-time data, raising questions about equity and inclusion in digital water governance. The study contributes to the emerging debate on digitalisation and data governance in the water sector, showing that user acceptance depends not only on perceived usefulness but also on the institutional, legal, and political context in which digital technologies are embedded. A more critical, inclusive, and context-sensitive approach to digital water governance is therefore needed.