Blockchain Use Case in Ballistics and Crime Gun Tracing and Intelligence: Toward Overcoming Gun Violence

2023 | ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Akello, Patricia; Vemprala, Naga; Lang Beebe, Nicole; Raymond Choo, Kim-Kwang

Abstract: In the United States and around the world, gun violence has become a long-standi ... Expand

Abstract: In the United States and around the world, gun violence has become a long-standing public safety concern and a security threat, due to violent gun-related crimes, injuries, and fatalities. Although legislators and lawmakers have attempted to mitigate its threats through legislation, research on gun violence confirms the need for a comprehensive approach to gun violence prevention. This entails addressing the problem in as many ways as possible, such as through legislation, new technological advancements, re-engineering supply, and administrative protocols, among others. The research focuses on the technological, supply, and administrative aspects, in which we propose a manner of managing gun-related data efficiently from the point of manufacture/sale, as well as at points of transfers between secondary sellers for the improvement of criminal investigation processes. Making data more readily available with greater integrity will facilitate successful investigations and prosecutions of gun crimes. Currently, there is no single and uniform platform for firearm manufacturers, dealers, and other stakeholders involved in firearm sales, dissemination, management, and investigation. With the help of Blockchain technology, gun registry, ownership, transfers, and, most importantly, investigations, when crimes occur, can all be managed efficiently, breaking the cycle of gun violence. The identification of guns, gun tracing, and identification of gun owners/possessors rely on accuracy, integrity, and consistency in related systems to influence gun crime investigation processes. Blockchain technology, which uses a consensus-based approach to improve processes and transactions, is demonstrated in this study as a way to enhance these procedures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore and demonstrate the utility of Blockchain for gun-related criminal investigations using a design science approach. Collapse

Topics: blockchain criminality smart contract Ethereum access control

Methods: design artifact design science design process case study simulation

Is it possible to establish the link between drug busts and the cryptocurrency market? Yes, we can

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 1

Authors: Almaqableh, Laith; Wallace, Damien; Pereira, Vijay; Ramiah, Vikash; Wood, Geoffrey; Veron, Jose Francisco; Moosa, Imad; Watson, Alastair

Abstract: Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation ... Expand

Abstract: Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation of cryptocurrencies, which have become a major way of doing business across national boundaries. This paper investigates the link between cryptocurrency markets and drug trafficking activities. More specifically, we explore the impact of the announcement of 24 major drug busts on the systematic risk and return of the world cryptocurrency market. We deploy an event study methodology to estimate the abnormal returns associated with drug trafficking activities in the cryptocurrency market. We find that the relationship between the two is quite strong in the case of some cryptocurrencies, albeit weaker in others. However, we show that drug bust news tends to create uncertainty, and accordingly impart risk into cryptocurrency markets. This study confirms the predictions of convenience theories of crime as to the relative attractiveness of cryptocurrencies to criminals, and the extent to which not only general, but also their own future interests, sacrificed readily on the altar of accessibility. We highlight how when social and regulatory foundations are weak, criminal behaviour may overwhelm virtual spaces, margin­ alizing more orthodox businesses, no matter how altruistic the intentions of their founders. Collapse

Topics: cryptocurrency Bitcoin criminality price management Ethereum

Methods: event study longitudinal research robustness check literature study econometric modeling

Uniting Through Difference: Rich Cultural-Identity Expression as a Conduit to Inclusion

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Arnett, Rachel D.

Abstract: Although previous research suggests that bringing attention to minority cultural ... Expand

Abstract: Although previous research suggests that bringing attention to minority cultural identities in the workplace can lead to professional penalties, this research provides promising evidence that the opposite can occur. I examine how cultural minority employees engaging in rich and meaningful conversations about their racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds (referred to as rich cultural-identity expression) influences majority-group coworkers’ inclusive behaviors, such as majority-group employees’ willingness to socially integrate with and professionally support minority coworkers. Three experiments found evidence of majority-group employees behaving more—not less—inclusively toward minority coworkers who engaged in rich cultural-identity expression, as opposed to small talk that did not bring attention to a minority cultural background. Even when minority employees richly expressed negatively valenced cultural information that could provoke anxiety (such as issues with discrimination), this form of sharing had positive effects on most measures of inclusive behavior in Studies 2 and 3 (although one exception was found in Study 3). No benefits were observed when minority employees engaged in surface-level cultural-identity expression (Studies 2 and 3) and intimate, noncultural self-disclosure (Study 2). The power of rich cultural-identity expression is its ability to increase majority-group individuals’ status perceptions of, feelings of closeness to, and sense of learning potential from minority coworkers. This research provides promising evidence that minority employees may be able to express valued aspects of their cultural identities while gaining—as opposed to jeopardizing—inclusion. Funding: This work was supported by the Wharton Behavioral Laboratory and the Wharton Dean’s Research Fund. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1648. Collapse

Topics: electronic mail accounting identity management IT career pandemic

Methods: experiment survey ANOVA parametric test data transformation

Beyond a Fistful of Tumblers: Toward a Taxonomy of Ethereum-based Mixers

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Barbereau, Tom; Ermolaev, Egor; Brennecke, Martin; Hartwich, Eduard; Sedlmeir, Johannes

Abstract: The role played by decentralised services in the obfuscation of crypto-asset tr ... Expand

Abstract: The role played by decentralised services in the obfuscation of crypto-asset transactions performed on transparent blockchains has increasingly captured the attention of regulators. This is exemplified by the headlines about the U.S. Treasury's sanctions on the Ethereum-based mixer Tornado Cash. Yet, despite the existing controversies on the use of mixers, the different functionalities of these information systems with an inherent dark side remain to be explored by the literature. So far, contributions primarily encompass technical works and studies that focus on the Bitcoin ecosystem. This paper puts forward a multi-layer taxonomy of the smart-contract-based -and, therefore, functionally richer -family of mixers on Ethereum. Our proposed taxonomy is grounded on (1) a review of existing literature, (2) an analysis of mixers' project documentation, (3) their corresponding smart contracts, and (4) expert interviews. Our evaluation included the application of the taxonomy to two mixers -RAILGUN and zkBob. The taxonomy represents a valuable tool for law enforcement, regulators, and other stakeholders to explore critical properties affecting compliance and use of Ethereum-based mixers. Collapse

Topics: Ethereum smart contract cryptoasset blockchain user experience

Methods: qualitative interview theoretical contribution mixed method

The Crisis in Local Newspapers and Organizational Wrongdoing: The Role of Community Social Connectedness

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Choi, Tony Jaehyun; Valente, Mike

Abstract: Drawing on institutional anomie theory, we examine how the crisis in local newsp ... Expand

Abstract: Drawing on institutional anomie theory, we examine how the crisis in local newspapers has induced organizational wrongdoings in local communities. We argue that, because local newspapers are the primary source of accountability journalism in local communities, their decline leads to an anomic state that increases the scale of organizational wrongdoing. We also investigate whether institutional complementarity helps overcome the anomic state: Due to functional similarity, community social connectedness compensates for the scarcity of local newspapers. Our analysis of U.S. metropolitan areas for the period of 2007–2015 reveals that the positive relationship between local newspaper scarcity and the scale of organizational wrongdoing is not present in all communities but does appear when a community lacks community social connectedness. We also find that this moderating role of community social connectedness is observed only for internal organizational wrongdoings that are less visible to the public than external ones. Collapse

Topics: digital news missing data decision making social capital database system

Methods: descriptive statistic statistical hypothesis test longitudinal research longitudinal data analysis hierarchical linear modeling

Theories: organizational behavior theory

The double-edged effects of data privacy practices on customer responses

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Chen, Shijiao (Joseph); Tran, Khai Trieu; Xia, Zhenhua (Raymond); Waseem, Donia; Zhang, Jing A.; Potdar, Balkrushna

Abstract: Requesting personal information in frontline service encounters raises privacy c ... Expand

Abstract: Requesting personal information in frontline service encounters raises privacy concerns among customers. The proximity contact tracing that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic provides an intriguing context of in­ formation requests. Hospitality venues required contact tracing details from customers, and customer coopera­ tion varied with concerns about privacy. Drawing on gossip theory, we investigate the roles of businesses’ data privacy practices and government support in driving customers’ responses to contact tracing. Our findings show that perceived transparency of a business’s privacy practices has a positive effect on customers’ commitment to the business, while perceived control exerts a negative effect on commitment. These effects are mediated by customers’ information falsification rather than disclosure, because the former is a sensitive behavioral indicator of privacy concerns. The results also reveal the moderating roles of government support. This research con­ tributes to the customer data privacy literature by demonstrating the distinct effects of perceived transparency and control on commitment and revealing the underlying mechanism. Moreover, the research extends the conceptual understanding of privacy practices from online contexts to face-to-face contexts of frontline service. The findings offer implications for the management of customer data privacy. Collapse

Topics: privacy information privacy concern pandemic unintended consequence behavioral intention

Methods: qualitative interview survey conceptual modelling statistical hypothesis test structural equation modeling

Ethical Hacking for a Good Cause: Finding Missing People using Crowdsourcing and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Tools

2023 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Dincelli, Ersin; Slyke, Craig Van; Yayla, Alper

Abstract: Over 600,000 people go missing every year in the US alone. Despite the extensiv ... Expand

Abstract: Over 600,000 people go missing every year in the US alone. Despite the extensive resources allocated to investigating these cases, the high volume of missing person cases constitutes one of the biggest challenges for law enforcement agencies. One approach to tackle this challenge is using crowdsourcing. That is, volunteers use freely available tools and techniques to aid the existing efforts to investigate missing person cases. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) refers to gathering information from publicly available sources and analyzing it through a comprehensive set of open-source tools to produce meaningful and actionable intelligence. OSINT has been applied to address various societal challenges and crimes, including environmental abuse, human rights violations, child exploitation, domestic violence, disasters, and locating missing people. Building on this premise, this case examines a crowdsourced initiative called Trace Labs that aims to assist law enforcement agencies in solving missing person cases using OSINT tools. The case emphasizes socio-technical aspects of cybersecurity, highlighting both the bright and dark sides of technology. It demonstrates the potential of information systems to serve the public good by examining topics such as open-source software, crowdsourcing, and intelligence gathering, while acknowledging that the very same underlying technology can be used for malicious purposes. concerns the behavioral aspects of information security and human-computer interaction (HCI). In particular, he studies individuals' decision-making processes and behaviors in the context of information security and privacy, social engineering attacks, privacy-invasive technologies (e.g., social media and wearable devices), designing innovative security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs, and HCI design for emerging technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain, and virtual reality). Dr. Dincelli has published in academic journals, such as the Collapse

Topics: IT security ease of learning crowdsourcing anonymity open source

Methods: survey personal interview survey design mixed method

Exploring the Darkverse: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of the Negative Societal Impacts of the Metaverse

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Dwivedi, Yogesh K.; Kshetri, Nir; Hughes, Laurie; Rana, Nripendra P.; Baabdullah, Abdullah M.; Kar, Arpan Kumar; Koohang, Alex; Ribeiro-Navarrete, Samuel; Belei, Nina; Balakrishnan, Janarthanan; Basu, Sriparna; Behl, Abhishek; Davies, Gareth H.; Dutot, Vincent; Dwivedi, Rohita; Evans, Leighton; Felix, Reto; Foster-Fletcher, Richard; Giannakis, Mihalis; Gupta, Ashish; Hinsch, Chris; Jain, Animesh; Jane Patel, Nina; Jung, Timothy; Juneja, Satinder; Kamran, Qeis; Mohamed AB, Sanjar; Pandey, Neeraj; Papagiannidis, Savvas; Raman, Ramakrishnan; Rauschnabel, Philipp A.; Tak, Preeti; Taylor, Alexandra; tom Dieck, M. Claudia; Viglia, Giampaolo; Wang, Yichuan; Yan, Meiyi

Abstract: The Metaverse has the potential to form the next pervasive computing archetype t ... Expand

Abstract: The Metaverse has the potential to form the next pervasive computing archetype that can transform many aspects of work and life at a societal level. Despite the many forecasted benefits from the metaverse, its negative outcomes have remained relatively unexplored with the majority of views grounded on logical thoughts derived from prior data points linked with similar technologies, somewhat lacking academic and expert perspective. This study responds to the dark side perspectives through informed and multifaceted narratives provided by invited leading academics and experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. The metaverse dark side perspectives covered include: technological and consumer vulnerability, privacy, and diminished reality, human–computer interface, identity theft, invasive advertising, misinformation, propaganda, phishing, financial crimes, terrorist activities, abuse, pornography, social inclusion, mental health, sexual harassment and metaverse-triggered unintended consequences. The paper concludes with a synthesis of common themes, formulating propositions, and presenting implications for practice and policy. Collapse

Topics: virtual reality privacy unintended consequence artificial intelligence IT security

Methods: digital trace data computational algorithm design guideline synthesis ethnography

In Institutions We Trust? Trust in Government and the Allocation of Entrepreneurial Intentions

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Eesley, Charles; Lee, Yong Suk

Abstract: Whether entrepreneurship generates economic growth depends on the institutional ... Expand

Abstract: Whether entrepreneurship generates economic growth depends on the institutional environment due to its impact on the mix of productive and unproductive entrepreneurship in the economy. The incentive structure embedded in each society affects whether talented people become entrepreneurs and potentially, the extent to which they engage in more productive forms of entrepreneurship. We examine how trust in institutions affects the entrepreneurial intentions of potentially productive entrepreneurs. We utilize the unique event surrounding the impeachment of South Korea’s previous president. The event improved people’s trust in the government because it was ultimately the people’s protests and demands that led to the impeachment of the president for influence peddling and extracting personal rents from businesses. By surveying the same individuals before and after the impeachment ruling, we identify people’s changes in trust in government and various institutions. We find that increased trust in institutions increases one’s intent to start a business within five years. Moreover, we show that the relationship between trust in institutions and entrepreneurial intention is significantly stronger for engineering majors from top universities. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1583. Collapse

Topics: entrepreneurship human resource management individual characteristic IT career innovation management

Methods: survey theory development descriptive statistic robustness check experiment

The Returns to Nonmarket Strategies During Institutional Transitions: Investor Reactions to Actor and Tie Characteristics

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Gatignon, Aline; Gama, Marina A. B.; DeMello, Rodrigo B.

Abstract: We explain how investor perceptions of nonmarket strategies’ legitimacy, and the ... Expand

Abstract: We explain how investor perceptions of nonmarket strategies’ legitimacy, and thereby value, change during institutional transitions toward greater legal compliance. Indirect influence strategies should be better aligned with the transition and therefore become more legitimate than those associated with direct co-optation and control. Moreover, investors should assess this alignment based on two defining characteristics of firms’ nonmarket strategies, namely, the nonmarket actors and the ties involved. We, therefore, expect investors to value firms’ ties to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) more than to political actors and ties formed via donations more than board ties. We test our hypotheses in the context of seven police raids that took place in Brazil in 2014; these raids launched “Operation Car Wash,” an anticorruption probe that signaled to investors a shift toward greater legal compliance at that point in time. Ultimately, we find that firms benefited the most when both nonmarket actors and ties were aligned with the institutional transition (i.e., NGO donations), and they suffered the most when both characteristics were misaligned (i.e., political board ties). Our findings integrate nonmarket strategies’ political and social facets by showing how actor and tie characteristics jointly explain their success or failure. They also contribute to explaining which firms will be better positioned to weather institutional transitions between legal capture and legal compliance. Funding: This work was supported by Getúlio Vargas Pesquisa-Fundação Getúlio Vargas; Govil Family Faculty Scholar Award; Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1616. Collapse

Topics: database system corporate governance financial performance accounting corporate social responsibility

Methods: Wald test robustness check qualitative interview statistical hypothesis test theory development