ABSTRACT
Risk communication holds a central position in contemporary public debate. Risks are communicated by government agencies, mass media and social media. This chapter presents a three-level framework, with three corresponding conditions. Three examples are provided in order to discuss risk communication, and it becomes clear that although there are differences, there are also similarities between the communication of risks in the areas of health, technology and environment. Risk communication was transformed into a marketing practice with the aim of persuading people to adopt a certain message. Ethical risk communication is not merely required for instrumental reasons, but first and foremost for normative reasons. In common procedures for risk communication and stakeholder participation, emotions do not play an explicit role. Ethically responsible risk communication requires a legitimate procedure, an ethically justified risk message and a concern for and evaluation of the effects of the message and procedure.
