What is non-repudiation in the context of information security goals for e-commerce systems?

Non-repudiation in the context of information security, particularly for e-commerce systems, refers to the assurance that participants in a transaction cannot deny their involvement. This concept is crucial in online transactions where proving that a particular user initiated a transaction or agreement is essential for legal and accountability purposes.

Non-repudiation typically involves mechanisms such as digital signatures, transaction logs, and cryptographic techniques that create verifiable evidence of the transaction and the parties involved. This ensures that if there is a dispute about whether a party consented to a transaction, there is reliable proof of participation.

The concept underscores the importance of trust in e-commerce, as it helps to prevent fraud and enhances the credibility of online transactions. This assurance fosters a secure environment where users feel confident that their actions can be validated and that they cannot later refute their participation in a transaction.

Other options relate to different aspects of information security such as data integrity, user access control, and protection against unauthorized access, but they do not specifically encapsulate the principle of non-repudiation.