Blockchain and AI Ethics: Implications for Defence and Security

At present, blockchain solutions are drawing the attention of researchers and industrial practitioners due to their potential cross-sectorial applications beyond finance where it emerged, to implement decentralized data handling, guarantee data confidentiality and integrity using cryptography, and create trust in digital data. In Defence, as in other domains, blockchain is a promising solution for manufacturers and suppliers to 'harden' the supply chain and logistics by improving operational performance through the entire life cycle, from raw material to retired assets. Furthermore, the decentralized data management has attracted interest to device improved battlefield operations management, border protection, swarm assistance for rescue, as well as military, operations. As the domain is starting to be more dependent on blockchain, and its decentralized and algorithmic-centered decision-making, people are starting the question the ethics of such a solution, following the similar debate around AI applications in general, and in defence also. This paper presents the overall topic and the late conclusions eminent researchers have reached so far.