Deciphering blockchain's role in Danish decision-making: evaluating opportunities and challenges through the prism of due process

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the benefits and pitfalls associated with integrating a common blockchain model within a distinct administrative environment, focusing particularly on its effects on decision-making processes. The study is grounded in the doctrine of procedural due process, a holistic concept encompassing intertwined administrative rules and principles, designed to promote fairness and justice in decision-making, which can be succinctly distilled into three core principles: accuracy, integrity, and transparency. On initial examination, these principles seem to correspond with the fundamental characteristics of blockchain technology, which are identified as authenticity, integrity, and transparency. In our analysis, we measure the extent to which the attributes of blockchain technology align with the principles of the due process doctrine. An essential component of this assessment includes a meticulous examination of the practical merging of each characteristic within the decision-making procedure. The approach and practical applications explored in this study highlight the potential of blockchain technology to enhance adherence to due process, especially in areas where traditional trust-based systems have faltered in maintaining basic procedural safeguards. However, given the intricate complexity tied to its implementation, this technology should be regarded as a fallback option, strictly reserved for situations where the benefits of its utilisation unmistakably outweigh the numerous inherent risks. In the ensuing sections of this paper, we will delve deeper into these risks and propose actionable mitigation strategies.