Trust Framework

Trust in the data space is achieved by the implementation of the iSHARE Trust Framework, which consists of the three trust principles:

iSHARE Trust Principles

DSSC Description

The Trust Framework building block defines the essential elements needed to establish and maintain trust within a data space. Trust is fundamental for enabling secure and reliable data exchange, as it supports key processes such as participant identity verification, attestation validation, and compliance with the data space rulebook. This framework outlines how trust should be established, maintained, and operationalised through a combination of governance rules, technical standards, and accredited entities.

The core objectives of this building block are to define the components and principles of a trust framework tailored to data spaces, assign roles and responsibilities to trust-related entities, and describe how existing trust frameworks (like Gaia-X, iSHARE, or IDSA) can be reused or adapted. Capabilities include validating participants and services, enforcing governance rules across technical, organisational, and semantic layers, defining trust entities such as Trust Anchors and Trust Service Providers, and integrating with the Data Space Registry to maintain and publish key trust-related information.

A trust framework combines business rules, policies, and standards—documented in the rulebook—with technical procedures for implementing and automating trust processes. It establishes defined criteria for participants (e.g., regulatory or identity requirements), mechanisms for collecting and verifying claims and attestations, and the use of semantic models and protocols to facilitate interoperability. Accredited trust sources are designated by the Data Space Governance Authority (DSGA) to ensure claims are reliable and verifiable. Different levels of trust may be assigned based on the source or type of verification.

Key roles within this framework include Trust Anchors (entities that are inherently trusted, like governmental bodies), Trust Service Providers (TSPs) who issue verifiable credentials based on KYB/KYC checks, and Notaries, who validate claims when TSPs cannot and convert non-machine-readable data into standard formats. While notaries expand flexibility, their attestations may carry lower assurance levels.

Data spaces can adopt and extend existing trust frameworks by setting stricter acceptance criteria for trust entities or by adding new rules, credentials, or entities to address specific sectoral or governance needs. This approach ensures that data spaces can evolve while maintaining compatibility with broader trust infrastructures, ultimately promoting trust, security, and interoperability across the ecosystem.

The complete description is available here.

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