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Trusting records: is Blockchain technology the answer?

Victoria Louise Lemieux (School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada)

Records Management Journal

ISSN: 0956-5698

Article publication date: 18 July 2016

23327

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of Blockchain technology as a solution to creating and preserving trustworthy digital records, presenting some of the limitations, risks and opportunities of the approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach involves using the requirements embedded in records management and digital preservation standards, specifically ISO 15,489, ARMA’s Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles, ISO 14,721 and ISO 16,363, as a general evaluative framework for a risk-based assessment of a specific proposed implementation of Blockchain technology for a land registry system in a developing country.

Findings

The results of the analysis suggest that Blockchain technology can be used to address issues associated with information integrity in the present and near term, assuming proper security architecture and infrastructure management controls. It does not, however, guarantee reliability of information in the first place, and would have several limitations as a long-term solution for maintaining trustworthy digital records.

Originality/value

This paper contributes an original analysis of the application of Blockchain technology for recordkeeping.

Keywords

Citation

Lemieux, V.L. (2016), "Trusting records: is Blockchain technology the answer?", Records Management Journal, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 110-139. https://doi.org/10.1108/RMJ-12-2015-0042

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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