Challenges and Solutions in Implementing Informed Consent in Digital Environments: A Scoping Review

In times of ubiquitous data collection and processing, the need for privacy and control is stronger than ever. The implementation of informed consent is becoming increasingly important. The obligation to obtain informed consent and the user’s right to information and to refuse or withdraw consent is already defined in the GDPR. Particularly within the mHealth sector, where the collection of particularly sensitive health data occurs, the realisation of informed consent presents an important challenge. However, many applications are still not compliant, and companies seem to struggle with the implementation of effective informed consent. This scoping review analyses how the technical implementation of informed consent has been addressed in the literature to date, what challenges need to be overcome when implementing informed consent, and what solutions are proposed and discussed in the current literature on the implementation of informed consent.