Source of Trust
Defining trustworthy information sources in the age of artificial intelligence.
Source of Trust is an open initiative dedicated to defining the principles, properties, and methods that make information sources identifiable, verifiable, and trustworthy in AI-mediated information systems.
Core Definition
A Source of Trust (SoT) is an identifiable information-providing entity for which evidence of relevant competence, integrity, and reliable information practices justifies reliance on its attributable information within a defined context.
This proposed definition is an original synthesis of research on source credibility and information quality, together with technical work on provenance. Its rationale and references are provided in the Core Definition and Conceptual Framework.
Core Principles
- Identity
- A distinguishable source with checkable links between its identity and publications.
- Authority
- Evidence of relevant expertise, first-hand knowledge, or responsibility for a defined subject.
- Provenance
- Traceable origins, attribution, and relevant transformations of information.
- Evidence
- Relevant, inspectable support for specific claims, with methods and uncertainty made explicit.
- Consistency
- Coherent claims and documented updates, assessed with attention to source independence and time.
- Accessibility
- Information and supporting material that humans and machines can locate and interpret.
Open Initiative
Project status: Early Development
The specification is developed publicly through discussion, issues, and proposed changes. Contributions can refine terminology, examine the principles, and provide documented examples. Revisions are recorded in the repository so the development of the framework can be followed over time.