Trust at Source Framework
A Knowledge Framework for Source-side Trust Formation in Product Data.
Before product-related information is relied upon externally, the relevant conditions of trust should be examined within the source domain.
What conditions should be considered at source before product-related information is relied upon elsewhere?
Position in the Bita Trust Knowledge Architecture
Trust at Source is a Bita Trust knowledge framework for examining source-side trust formation in product data. It considers how product-related information relates to identifiable product reality and relevant state, how facts and claims are supported by observations, records and evidence, how responsibility and boundaries are identified, and how information may be prepared for a defined external use context.
Data Physics asks:
How does information relate to the state and state change of a physical entity?
Trust at Source asks:
Under what conditions may a product-related claim be relied upon for a defined purpose?
GTSE asks:
How can trusted state representations be exchanged across trust domains?
Trust at Source is positioned between Data Physics and GTSE. It examines source-side conditions of reliance before trusted state representations are exchanged across domains.
Trust Formation Model
The framework follows a simple formation model:
What Trust at Source Is
Trust at Source is:
- a framework for source-side trust formation in product data;
- a way of examining product data before external exchange;
- a knowledge model for identifiable product reality and relevant state, product-related facts and claims grounded in observations, records and evidence, responsibility, boundaries and expression;
- a complement to external product data ecosystems;
- a foundation for trusted handover;
- a bridge between Data Physics and GTSE。
Trust at Source defines no mandatory product attributes, industry vocabulary, identifier scheme, credential format, registry, blockchain or platform. These remain the responsibility of the applicable industry, regulatory and technology environments.
What Trust at Source Is Not
Trust at Source is not a Digital Product Passport platform, certification scheme, regulatory programme, data registry, product identifier system, verifiable credential standard, consulting package or membership initiative.
It is a framework for examining the conditions under which product-related information may be relied upon before external handover.
Framework Paper
The Trust at Source Framework v0.1 has been published as a Bita Trust Framework Paper.
The framework is non-normative and does not constitute a certification scheme, compliance service, implementation platform or formal standard.
Guiding Principle
Trust begins at the source.