ICTs, development and trust: an overview

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on information and communication technologies (ICTs), development and trust and to introduce papers in the special issue: “Trust and information and communication technologies for development”.

Design/methodology/approach: The paper reviews the literature on trust, broadly, and then, specifically, focuses on linkages to ICTs, and human development.

Findings: Trust is a broadly defined, yet relatively understudied concept in the context of ICTs and development (ICTD). The paper finds that there are many definitions of trust and ways it is constituted in the context of ICTD. It highlights the opportunity to contribute to the literature and this burgeoning field through research on trust in ICT‐mediated services or systems, trust in information and trust in institutions that are often key providers of these services.

Originality/value: The paper holds value to both academics and practitioners working in the field of ICTD by outlining the key programmatic areas in which research on this topic can be applied.