Ethical AI Practices of E-Commerce Companies in Selected Cities in China: A Proposed Policy Guide
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/5hvm6t05Keywords:
Ethical AI, E-commerce, AI governance, Algorithmic fairness, Transparency, Accountability, PrivacyAbstract
This study investigates the current state and critical challenges of ethical artificial intelligence (AI) practices within leading e-commerce companies—Alibaba, JD.com, Meituan, and Pinduoduo—in selected cities in China. Through a mixed-method approach incorporating quantitative surveys of employees and qualitative interviews with management, this research explores perceptions surrounding fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy in AI applications. Results indicate a high degree of consistency in employee perceptions across different demographic groups, highlighting the importance of corporate culture and standardized ethical guidelines. Management interviews reveal significant ethical concerns, such as balancing innovation with privacy protection, mitigating algorithmic biases, and enhancing AI transparency and accountability. Based on these findings, the study proposes a detailed policy guide emphasizing strengthened governance structures, comprehensive transparency mechanisms, robust privacy controls, and continuous ethical training. These policy recommendations provide practical guidance for Chinese e-commerce companies striving to deploy AI ethical and responsibly.
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