To date, a plethora of research has been published investigating the value of using Digital Twin (DT) technology in the construction industry. However, the contribution of DT technology to promoting social sustainability in the industry has largely been unexplored. Therefore, the current paper aims to address this gap by exploring the untapped potential of DT technology in advancing social sustainability within the construction industry. To this end, a comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted, which identified 298 relevant studies. These studies were subsequently analysed with respect to their use of DT technology in supporting social sustainability. The findings indicated that the studies contributed to 8 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a strong focus on SDG11 (77 publications), followed by SDG3 and SDG9, with 58 and 48 studies, respectively, focusing on promoting health and well-being and fostering resilient infrastructure and innovation. Other contributions were identified for SDG13 (30 studies), SDG7 (27 studies), SDG12 (26 studies), SDG4 (21 studies), and SDG6 (11 studies), covering areas such as climate action, responsible consumption, affordable energy, quality education, and clean water and sanitation. This paper also proposes future research directions for advancing DT technology to further enhance social sustainability in the construction industry. These include (i) enhancing inclusivity and diversity, (ii) workforce safety and well-being, (iii) training and skill development, (iv) policy and regulatory support, and (v) cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Purpose: The literature on the ethical and legal challenges associated with Home Digital Twin technologies is fragmented, limiting a coherent understanding of how these issues are addressed. Therefore, this study aims to synthesise the key ethical and legal challenges related to the use of digital twin technologies in residential buildings. Design/methodology/approach: A structured integrative literature review, supported by a systematic search of Scopus and Web of Science, was conducted. Following the screening process, 41 publications were included and analysed using a hybrid inductive–deductive content analysis. Findings: Five overarching themes were identified: (1) data privacy and security, (2) bias and fairness, (3) informed consent, (4) transparency and accountability, and (5) informed decision-making. Collectively, these findings indicate a structural imbalance in digital twin applications in residential buildings, where technical capabilities are advancing more rapidly than legal accountability, regulatory clarity, and enforceable user protections. This misalignment raises concerns about trust, autonomy, and fairness in digitally mediated residential environments and points to the need for stronger governance responses. Originality/value: This study contributes to the current knowledge by synthesising fragmented ethical and legal discussions on the use of digital twins in residential buildings and articulating their shared governance implications. By organising these issues into five main themes, the study offers a structured understanding of challenges that are typically examined in isolation.