Ethics of blockchain: A framework of technology, applications, impacts, and research directions
Information Technology & People
ISSN: 0959-3845
Article publication date: 10 September 2019
Issue publication date: 9 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is fourfold: first, to provide the first systematic study on the ethics of blockchain, mapping its main socio-technical challenges in technology and applications; second, to identify ethical issues of blockchain; third, to propose a conceptual framework of blockchain ethics study; fourth, to discuss ethical issues for stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper employs literature research, research agenda and framework development.
Findings
Ethics of blockchain and its applications is essential for technology adoption. There is a void of research on blockchain ethics. The authors propose a first theoretical framework of blockchain ethics. Research agenda is proposed for future search. Finally, the authors recommend measures for stakeholders to facilitate the ethical adequacy of blockchain implementations and future Information Systems (IS) research directions. This research raises timely awareness and stimulates further debate on the ethics of blockchain in the IS community.
Originality/value
First, this work provides timely systematic research on blockchain ethics. Second, the authors propose the first research framework of blockchain ethics. Third, the authors identify key research questions of blockchain ethics. Fourth, this study contributes to the understanding of blockchain technology and its societal impacts.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank editors and anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments and suggestions which greatly improved this work. The authors also thank participants of ACM SIGMIS – Computers and People Research Conference 2019 Nashville, TN, USA and Dagstuhl Seminar 19261 on Distributed Computing with Permissioned Blockchains and Databases, Wadern, Germany, for their valuable discussions. Finally, the authors would like to show our gratitude to the support of ACM SIGMIS research funding for the academic year 2018–2019.
Citation
Tang, Y., Xiong, J., Becerril-Arreola, R. and Iyer, L. (2020), "Ethics of blockchain: A framework of technology, applications, impacts, and research directions", Information Technology & People, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 602-632. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-10-2018-0491
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited