1 The case of on-line trust

Abstract. This paper contributes to the debate on on-line trust addressing the problem of whether an on-line environment satisfies the necessary conditions for the emergence of trust. The paper defends the thesis that on-line environments can foster trust, and it does so in three steps. First, the arguments proposed by the detractors of on-line trust are presented and analysed. Second, it is argued that trust can emerge in uncertain and risky environments and that it is possible to trust on-line identities when they are diachronic and sufficient data are available to assess their reputation. Finally, a definition of trust as a second-order property of first-order relation is endorsed in order to present a new definition of on-line trust. According to such a definition, on-line trust is an occurrence of trust that specifically qualifies the relation of communication ongoing among individuals in digital environments. On the basis of this analysis the paper concludes by arguing that on-line trust promotes the emergence of social behaviours rewarding honest and transparent communications. Key words: on-line trust, trust, trustworthiness. 1