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Fight Fire With Fire: How Does AI‐Powered Technology Empower the Elderly Anti‐AI Fraud Through a Socio‐Technical Systems Theory Lens?

Sima, Herbert ; Chen, Jie ; Wei, Junlong ; Chen, Wei ; Thaichon, Park (2026) — Journal of Consumer Behaviour

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DOI: 10.1002/cb.70106 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   China
Tags:   AI-Enabled Fraud, AI Fraud, Algorithmic Governance, Anti AI Fraud, Anti Fraud Technology, Brand Trust, Cross Cultural, Deepfakes, Digital Literacy, Elder Protection, Elderly Consumers, Elderly Vulnerability, Emotional Vulnerability, Older Adults, Platform Policy, Prevention, Privacy, Silver Guardian, Socio Technical Systems, Socio Technical Systems Theory, The Elderly, Vulnerable Consumers
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Synopsis

            
This study adopts a product-oriented, in-depth single-case study of the Silver Guardian project within the Cyber-Shield Security Ecosystem. It uses socio-technical systems theory to analyze joint optimization of technical and social subsystems for elderly users (low digital literacy, high emotional vulnerability, cognitive limits). Older adults are vulnerable targets of AI-enabled fraud because of limited digital literacy and declining cognitive abilities. The paper proposes a staged governance model: control uses static rules, cooperation uses machine learning to personalize security, and evaluation uses deep learning to detect fraud or emotional distress. Limitations stem from the single-case, qualitative orientation of a product-focused study within one national context.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
Gaps identified include: (a) prior work often treats AI technology and vulnerable consumers separately, lacking a joint STS framework; (b) insufficient empirical validation of co-designing social and technical subsystems for the elderly; (c) limited attention to brand trust dynamics under AI-enabled fraud; (d) need for generalizable governance roadmaps and policy interventions; (e) under-representation of elderly digital literacy in design; (f) calls for inclusive, accessible design to preserve autonomy.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
This study adopts a product-oriented, in-depth single-case study of the Silver Guardian project within the Cyber-Shield Security Ecosystem. It uses socio-technical systems theory to analyze joint optimization of technical and social subsystems for elderly users (low digital literacy, high emotional vulnerability, cognitive limits). The investigation follows stages of product formation, iteration, and cloud-based prevention upgrades, noting how an iterative governance model—described as 'controlled, cooperative, and evaluative'—improves AI fraud detection and reduces risk. By integrating literature on consumer fraud, elderly vulnerability, AI's double-edged nature, and STS, the paper offers a holistic framework for elder protection through algorithmic governance and brand trust.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
Limitations stem from the single-case, qualitative orientation of a product-focused study within one national context. Generalizability to other cultures or fraud contexts may be limited, and empirical measurement of outcomes is constrained by available documentation rather than randomized trials. The reliance on ongoing corporate projects may introduce context-specific biases in governance and stakeholder interactions. While the STS lens offers integration of social and technical factors, transferability of the joint-optimization insights to different platforms or populations should be done cautiously. Future work should validate findings across settings and with quantitative impact metrics.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Future research should broaden empirical coverage beyond a single case to test cross-country applicability of the integrated STS framework. Comparative studies across different elderly populations and fraud types would illuminate contextual contingencies. Further work could translate joint optimization of social and technical subsystems into actionable design guidelines and governance protocols, including privacy-preserving AI, accessible UX, and policy interventions. Longitudinal studies could assess effects on elder well-being, trust, and fraud resilience over time. Collaboration among policymakers, platforms, and financial institutions would help translate insights into scalable, ethical anti-fraud solutions.

          

              

    
    

        
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