The Integrity Deficit: A Systematic Review of Statutory Licensing in the Post Turing Digital Economy
The Integrity Deficit: A Systematic Review of Statutory Licensing in the Post Turing Digital Economy
Abstract
As generative AI transforms digital marketing, the credibility of online information is under unprecedented threat. This systematic review investigates whether statutory licensing—mirroring regulatory models in physical security—can restore trust and mitigate reputational risk in the post-Turing digital economy. Drawing on thirty high-integrity sources, the study reveals a “Governance Vacuum” in which voluntary standards and self-regulation fail to address both external threats (such as coordinated attacks and content sabotage) and internal hazards (notably AI hallucinations). Employing the “Algorithmic Governance Iceberg” framework, the review critiques the sector’s outdated reliance on resource-based advantages, arguing for a fundamental shift toward a Legitimacy-Based View (LBV) that centres on institutional accountability and mandatory licensing. The UK’s Security Industry Authority (SIA) is proposed as a template for an Integrated Integrity Framework (IIF), combining statutory vetting, cryptographic verification, and robust ethics training to professionalise the sector. The findings underscore the inadequacy of “soft law” mechanisms and call for statutory intervention as an urgent necessity to safeguard digital trust and the future viability of the digital economy.