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Positive Impacts of Blockchain Technology on the Digital Safety of Journalists: An Explorative Study

"The freedom of media and the safety of journalists are crucial elements in democratic societies. Despite global efforts to increase the safety of journalists, the profession remains plagued by perilous working conditions. With increasing digital threats to journalists' security and ability to work, blockchain technology might offer practical solutions to counteract specific vulnerabilities in the digital realm. This exploratory paper investigates the possible scopes of blockchain technology applications in improving the digital safety of journalists. With a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with investigative journalists and blockchain experts, the study examines the threats journalists face in the digital realm and aims to understand the current and future opportunities and challenges of using blockchain technology for the digital safety of journalists. The results suggest that blockchain technology might already aid in protecting identities and communications, logging security breaches, and enabling decentralized data storage, among others. However, significant challenges exist in various dimensions, such as technical (e.g., scalability), political (e.g., lack of clear regulations), and social (e.g., acceptance). More research is needed to understand the full potential of blockchain technology in improving the digital safety of journalists and the steps and challenges ahead for a smooth adoption of this technology." (Abstract)