WI2023 – Track: Distributed Trust, Security & Privacy
Track Description
While until recently, questions relating to trust, security, and privacy were still dominated by decades-old encryption techniques or data collection, especially by platform operators, a number of technologies have been developed in recent years that not only enable new applications but are already being used worldwide.
First and foremost, distributed ledger technologies (DLT, Blockchain) gained importance as a new type of distributed system for consensus building. With the help of DLT, transactions (and other data) are stored in an immutable and verifiable manner. A central authority as a “trusted third party” is not required for this but is replaced by trust in the technology and developed algorithms. However, the transparency and immutability of a distributed ledger also pose immediate data protection challenges.
Beyond DLT, other technologies also ensure security and data protection in distributed systems. Digital identities, verifiable credentials, zero-knowledge proofs, federated learning, and differential privacy are particularly worth mentioning.
Applications of the technologies mentioned stretch far: DLT is used for cross-organizational data exchange all the way to process management. Smart contracts have also been used to create fully autonomous organizations (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, DAO), now transforming into entire industries (e.g., Decentralized Finance, DeFi), some of which already have billions of dollars tied up in them. Digital identity proofs are provided by open source projects or private providers and discussed by governments worldwide. Application areas for decentralized digital identities for individuals and machines range from public administration and the healthcare industry to the energy industry and electric cars.
In this track, we want to address applications, effects, challenges, and opportunities of the mentioned technologies in the economy and society in the context of Trust, Security & Privacy. Therefore, we invite the submission of innovative and relevant empirical (qualitative and quantitative) studies and design-oriented research papers and conceptual/theoretical contributions.
Track Topics
- Trust building in decentralized systems (trust in IT, interpersonal, inter-organizational trust).
- Governance in decentralized systems (e.g. tokenization of voting rights)
- Usability in decentralized systems
- Impact on business models (change in existing business models, the emergence of new business models, disruptive business models, etc.)
- Impact on the value chain (disintermediation, change of actors, advantages and disadvantages, etc.), the Internet and the digital economy
- Blockchain-based data markets, data as a means of payment.
- Organizational change due to blockchain technology (DAOs, etc.)
- Tokenization, digital assets and NFTs
- Token-based carbon accounting
- Challenges of Decentralised Finance (DeFi).
- Potentials of distributed technologies for data sovereignty
- Digital identity management applications and challenges (personal and machine identities)
- Privacy in blockchain applications
- Privacy and trust in federated learning applications
Track Chairs
Gilbert Fridgen
Universität Luxemburg
Gilbert Fridgen is professor and PayPal-FNR PEARL Chair in Digital Financial Services at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability, and Trust, University of Luxembourg. In his research, he analyzes the transformative effects of digital technologies on individual organizations as well on the relationship between organizations. He addresses potentially disruptive technologies like Distributed Ledgers, Verifiable Credentials, Artificial Intelligence, or the Internet-of-Things. His research involves information systems engineering, IT strategy and (risk) management, as well as regulatory compliance. In his projects and partnerships, he collaborates with partners in financial services, energy, mobility, manufacturing, consulting, as well as with public bodies and governments.
Jens Strüker
Universität Bayreuth
Jens Strüker is Professor of Information Systems and Digital Energy Management at the University of Bayreuth. He received his Ph.D. and habilitation in information systems and business administration from University of Freiburg, after working as a visiting researcher at SAP Labs, Palo Alto. Jens is deputy director of the Finance & Information Management (FIM) Research Center and the Project Group Business & Information Systems Engineering of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT as well as director of the Fraunhofer Blockchain Lab in Bayreuth. His research focus is on real-time energy markets, carbon tracking and enabling technologies such as IoT and Distributed Ledger Technologies.
Liudmila Zavolokina
Universität Zürich
Liudmila Zavolokina is postdoctoral researcher at the Digital Society Initiative of the University of Zurich (UZH) and active member of the UZH Blockchain Center. Her research is design-oriented and focuses on trust creation, business value, and governance in blockchain platforms as well as digital platforms and ecosystems. Liudmila also spent several years working in the software industry in various roles, like IT consultant, project manager, business and system analyst.
Associate Editors
- Christoph Buck, Universität Bayreuth
- Carvalho Arthur, Miami University
- Raffaele Ciriello, University of Sydney
- Andreas Hein, TU München
- Nadine Ostern, Bern University of Applied Sciences
- Alexander Rieger, University of Luxembourg
- Bruno Rodrigues, Universität Zürich
- Tamara Roth, University of Luxembourg
- Johannes Sedlmeier, Universität Bayreuth
- Claudio Tessone, Universität Zürich
- Tim Teubner, TU Berlin
- Horst Treiblmaier, Modul University Wien
- Nils Urbach, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences