Trust at Source Framework
A Knowledge Framework for Source-side Trust Formation in Product Data.
Before product data can be trusted by external systems, it must first be formed as trustworthy at the source.
Can product data be trusted before it leaves the source?
Position in the Bita Trust Knowledge Architecture
Trust at Source is a Bita Trust framework for source-side trust formation in product data. It examines how product-related information becomes grounded in reality, expressed as product facts, supported by evidence, connected to responsibility, constrained by data boundaries and prepared for trusted external use.
Data Physics asks:
What is data?
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 provides the source-side trust formation layer before trusted state exchange.
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 product reality, product-related 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 understanding how product data becomes trustworthy before external reliance.
Framework Paper
The Trust at Source Framework v0.1 has been published as a Bita Trust Framework Paper.
Guiding Principle
Trust begins at the source.