APPLICATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN MITIGATION OF E-COMMERCE SECURITY CHALLENGES

Abstract

Technology penetration has significantly influenced the emergence of e-businesses and the widespread use of e-commerce platforms. In the 21st century, e-commerce platforms have become vital tools for promoting entrepreneurial activities and businesses, enhancing both visibility and accessibility to customers, goods, and services. The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified digital migration, accelerating reliance on e-commerce platforms. Despite these advantages, concerns persist regarding security issues, which stakeholders identify as a major threat to the growth and survival of online businesses. Network and system vulnerabilities make e-commerce platforms susceptible to cyberattacks, often resulting in data leakages that compromise data integrity, breach customer rights and privacy, and erode trust between e-commerce businesses and their customers. This study highlights the key sources of e-commerce security challenges and examines the potential of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and blockchain in mitigating these threats. To strengthen e-commerce security, the study recommends measures including data encryption, secure payment gateways, multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular software updates and patches, and strict adherence to user privacy policies and compliance regulations.