Ethical Dilemmas and Justice in Digital Governance: An Islamic Perspective on Trust, Equity, and Emerging Technoethics
Abstract
This study examines the impact of digitalisation on corporate ethics and justice in Türkiye within the framework of Islamic governance principles, such as justice, transparency, trust and social responsibility. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight experts in Istanbul, Ankara, Konya, Erzurum and Trabzon, who had at least five years' experience in fields such as Islamic economics, digital transformation, Islamic banking, Islamic business ethics, technology law, public sector management and Islamic law. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that, while digitalisation is partially compatible with Islamic principles, it also poses risks due to a lack of oversight and ethical violations. While 75% of participants highlighted transparency and accountability issues in public digital projects, 62% stated that data security breaches undermine the principle of 'trust'. Participants also emphasised that biases in AI algorithms threaten Islamic justice (75%), while disinformation undermines the principle of 'truth' (50%). Conversely, blockchain's potential to increase transparency in Islamic finance was identified as a positive finding by 25% of participants. Suggested solutions include Islamic digital ethics guidelines (87%), Sharia-compliant FinTech audits (75%), and blockchain-based zakat systems (50%). Younger respondents prioritised modern interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence (82%), whereas senior respondents prioritised institutional reforms (85%). Consequently, interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical standards and robust oversight mechanisms are essential for a digital transformation that aligns with Islamic values. However, the study's limitation to Türkiye and the lack of quantitative data highlight the importance of comparative and mixed-methods research studies in future research.
Keywords
Islamic Governance, Corporate, Digitalization Justice, Algorithmic Bias, Ethics
Ethical Statement
Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University with decision number 2025.06.238. The ethical approval was granted on 23 May 2025.
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