Research articles on INNOVATION

Beyond the individual: governing AI’s societal harm

Nathalie A. Smuha, KU Leuven
PUBLISHED ON: 30 Sep 2021 DOI: 10.14763/2021.3.1574

In this article, I propose a distinction between individual harm, collective harm and societal harm caused by artificial intelligence (AI), and focus particularly on the latter. By listing examples and identifying concerns, I provide a conceptualisation of AI’s societal harm so as to better enable its identification and mitigation. Drawing on an analogy with environmental law, which also aims to protect an interest affecting society at large, I propose governance mechanisms that EU policymakers should consider to counter AI’s societal harm.

Cryptocurrency

Ingolf G. A. Pernice, Weizenbaum Institute
Brett Scott, Independent
PUBLISHED ON: 20 May 2021 DOI: 10.14763/2021.2.1561

A cryptocurrency system can be understood as a system intended for the issuance of tokens which are intended to be used as a general or limited-purpose medium-of-exchange, and which are accounted for using an often collectively-maintained digital ledger making use of cryptography to replace trust in institutions to varying extents. Against such a backdrop, the singular term cryptocurrency can mean a token, intended to be used as a general or limited-purpose medium-of-exchange, issued via a cryptocurrency system.

KEYWORDS: Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin

Decentralisation in the blockchain space

Balázs Bodó, University of Amsterdam
Jaya Klara Brekke, Durham University
Jaap-Henk Hoepman, Radboud University
PUBLISHED ON: 19 May 2021 DOI: 10.14763/2021.2.1560

The rapidly evolving blockchain technology space has put decentralisation back into the focus of the design of techno-social systems, and the role of decentralised technological infrastructures in achieving particular social, economic, or political goals. In this entry we address how blockchains and distributed ledgers think about decentralisation.