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Blockchain technology for social impact: opportunities and challenges ahead

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  • Walid Al-Saqaf
  • Nicolas Seidler

Abstract

While much has already been written about blockchain applications and prospects in the FinTech industry, little research has been done to explore blockchain technology’s user-centric paradigm in enabling various applications beyond banking. This article is an effort to contribute to that body of scholarship by exploring blockchain technology’s potential applications, and their limits, in areas that intersect with social impact, including human rights. This article explores whether blockchain technology and its core operational principles – such as decentralisation, transparency, equality and accountability – could play a role in limiting undue online surveillance, censorship and human rights abuses that are facilitated by the increasing reliance on a few entities that control access to information online. By doing so, this article aims at initiating a scholarly curiosity to understand what is possible and what is to be concerned about when it comes to the potential impact of blockchain technology on society.

Suggested Citation

  • Walid Al-Saqaf & Nicolas Seidler, 2017. "Blockchain technology for social impact: opportunities and challenges ahead," Journal of Cyber Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(3), pages 338-354, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rcybxx:v:2:y:2017:i:3:p:338-354
    DOI: 10.1080/23738871.2017.1400084
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    Cited by:

    1. Lulwah AlSuwaidan & Nuha Almegren, 2020. "Validating the Adoption of Heterogeneous Internet of Things with Blockchain," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, June.
    2. C. Thorun & J. Diels, 2020. "Consumer Protection Technologies: An Investigation Into the Potentials of New Digital Technologies for Consumer Policy," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 177-191, March.
    3. Laura Berardi & Laurie Mook, 2023. "New digital technologies for social impact assessment: Considerations for Italian social economy organizations," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2 Suppl.), pages 109-132.
    4. Rahel Mandaroux & Chuanwen Dong & Guodong Li, 2021. "A European Emissions Trading System Powered by Distributed Ledger Technology: An Evaluation Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Janet McIntyre‐Mills, 2020. "The COVID‐19 era: No longer business as usual," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 827-838, September.
    6. Yadav, Amit Kumar & Shweta, & Kumar, Dinesh, 2023. "Blockchain technology and vaccine supply chain: Exploration and analysis of the adoption barriers in the Indian context," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    7. Ali Ihsan Ozdemir & Ilker Murat Ar & Ismail Erol, 2020. "Assessment of blockchain applications in travel and tourism industry," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(5), pages 1549-1563, December.
    8. Kamble, Sachin S. & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Kumar, Vikas & Belhadi, Amine & Foropon, Cyril, 2021. "A machine learning based approach for predicting blockchain adoption in supply Chain," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Hunt, Kyle & Narayanan, Adithya & Zhuang, Jun, 2022. "Blockchain in humanitarian operations management: A review of research and practice," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    10. Naif Al Azmi & Ghaleb Sweis & Rateb Sweis & Farouq Sammour, 2022. "Exploring Implementation of Blockchain for the Supply Chain Resilience and Sustainability of the Construction Industry in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    11. Böhmecke-Schwafert, Moritz & García Moreno, Eduardo, 2023. "Exploring blockchain-based innovations for economic and sustainable development in the global south: A mixed-method approach based on web mining and topic modeling," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    12. Raed Kareem Kanaan & Ghassan Abumatar & Alhareth Mohammed Abu Hussein & Musa Al-Lozi, 2019. "Management Information System using Blockchain Technology in an E-commerce Enterprise: A Systematic Review," Journal of Business & Management (COES&RJ-JBM), , vol. 7(3), pages 216-233, July.
    13. Monika Mačiulienė & Aelita Skaržauskienė, 2021. "Conceptualizing blockchain‐based value co‐creation: A service science perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(3), pages 330-341, May.
    14. Manju Biswas & Debashis Das & Sourav Banerjee & Amrit Mukherjee & Waleed AL-Numay & Utpal Biswas & Yudong Zhang, 2023. "Blockchain-Enabled Communication Framework for Secure and Trustworthy Internet of Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, June.
    15. James R. Barth & Hemantha S. B. Herath & Tejaswini C. Herath & Pei Xu, 2020. "Cryptocurrency valuation and ethics: a text analytic approach," Journal of Management Analytics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(3), pages 367-388, July.
    16. Zhu, Qingyun & Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "Blockchain technology and supply chains: The paradox of the atheoretical research discourse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    17. Lagendijk, Arnoud & Hillebrand, Bas & Kalmar, Eva & van Marion, Ingrid & van der Sanden, Maarten, 2019. "Blockchain innovation and framing in the Netherlands: How a technological object turns into a ‘hyperobject’," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    18. Rudolf Wirawan & Janet J. McIntyre-Mills & Mphatheleni Makaulule & Patricia Vhahangwele Lethole & Enid Pitsoane & Akwasi Arko-Achemfuor & Norma R. A. Romm, 2023. "Together We Can Grow: Resourcing the Commons Through Pathways to Wellbeing," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(5), pages 641-690, October.
    19. Dutta, Pankaj & Choi, Tsan-Ming & Somani, Surabhi & Butala, Richa, 2020. "Blockchain technology in supply chain operations: Applications, challenges and research opportunities," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

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