Blockchain-Enabled Trust Building for Managing Consensus in Linguistic Opinion Dynamics

Hossein Hassani, Roozbeh Razavi-Far, Mehrdad Saif, Enrique Herrera-Viedma

Abstract: To manage consensus in opinion dynamics models (ODMs), removing bias from agents' interactions and considering their willingness are critical. It can be accomplished by providing a secure mechanism that does not disclose agents' identities and opinions in their interactions, eliminating the impact of opinion similarity on trust building. To build trust and consensus opinion, we propose a linguistic ODM based on the Blockchain technology. This model allows agents' opinions to be expressed using Z -numbers, as opposed to regular ODMs with numerical opinions. Agents are encouraged to modify their initial opinions in response to a minimum cost consensus model. Willingness of agents to accept or refuse the suggested modifications is realized through a Blockchain regime to avoid bias. The regime, however, must be supported by a trust-building mechanism to persuade agents to alter their opinions. To this end, we propose a Blockchain-enabled trust-building mechanism to improve agents' trust and guide them toward a consensus opinion. Following a sensitivity analysis of the underlying assumptions in the developed model, the proposed ODM is tested for its efficiency and validity.