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A Blockchain Approach to Social Responsibility

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Data and Information in Online Environments (DIONE 2020)

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Abstract

As blockchain technology matures, more sophisticated solutions arise regarding complex problems. Blockchain continues to spread towards various niches such as government, IoT, energy, and environmental industries. One often overlooked opportunity for blockchain is the social responsibility sector. Presented in this paper is a permissioned blockchain model that enables enterprises to come together and cooperate to optimize their environmental and societal impacts. This is made possible through a private or permissioned blockchain. Permissioned blockchains are blockchain networks where all the participants are known and trust relationships among them can be fostered more smoothly. An example of what a permissioned blockchain would look like is described in this paper as well as its implementation, achieved using Hyperledger Fabric, which is a business-oriented blockchain framework. This study touches on the benefits available for companies that are willing to engage in socially responsible causes through blockchain. It states in what ways a permissioned blockchain can bring together businesses on common ground to increase their reach and provide better customer service. Finally, a use case is provided to bring to life a real-world situation where blockchain use improves service quality for all the parties involved, both the companies and their customers.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Each customer is represented in the blockchain by a single node, meaning that every customer’s action in the blockchain network is validated through a single certificate held by the customer node.

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Acknowledgement

This research has been partially supported by an OCE VIP II at Western University (VIP II - 31101). The authors would like to thank London Hydro for supplying industry knowledge used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western University, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada

    Augusto R. C. Bedin, Wander Queiroz & Miriam Capretz

  2. London Hydro, London, ON, N6A 4H6, Canada

    Syed Mir

Authors
  1. Augusto R. C. Bedin
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  2. Wander Queiroz
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  3. Miriam Capretz
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  4. Syed Mir
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miriam Capretz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rogério Mugnaini

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© 2020 ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering

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Bedin, A.R.C., Queiroz, W., Capretz, M., Mir, S. (2020). A Blockchain Approach to Social Responsibility. In: Mugnaini, R. (eds) Data and Information in Online Environments. DIONE 2020. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 319. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50072-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50072-6_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-50071-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-50072-6

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