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.
Subject
Library and Information Sciences,Computer Science Applications,Information Systems
Reference144 articles.
1. P2P and the promise of internet equality;Communications of the ACM,2003
2. Prolegomena to any future artificial moral agent;Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence,2000
3. Why machine ethics?;IEEE Intelligent Systems,2006
4. Blockchain: an entangled political economy approach;Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice,2018
5. The ethics of payments: paper, plastic, or bitcoin?;Journal of Business Ethics,2015
Cited by
68 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献