The foundations of smart data
Twelve principles.
The enduring, technology-neutral values behind everything we build. Each one is a normative statement you can hold a design to — prove a fact instead of sharing the record, keep data protected even while it is computed on, and let anyone authorised re-check the result. Trust rests in the mathematics.
Select a principle to read its statement, rationale and implications.
PRI1
Minimise disclosure
Prove the answer; sharing raw data is the documented exception.
PRI2
Protect every state
Encrypted at rest, in transit, and in use for rules, scores, aggregations.
PRI3
Control stays with the holder
Nothing is proven without the holder’s cryptographic participation.
PRI4
No trusted intermediary
Any authorised party, including a regulator, validates for itself.
PRI5
Evidence by default
Every action over data yields checkable proof.
PRI6
Schema-driven
The versioned data contract is cryptographically bound into every proof.
PRI7
Crypto-agile
Algorithms are versioned configuration, not code assumptions — the post-quantum-ready path.
PRI8
Compose with what exists
Anchor into today’s systems; adopt one field at a time.
PRI9
Durable & technology-neutral
Artifacts stay verifiable for their whole retention life.
PRI10
Proportionate & inclusive
Verify on commodity hardware; built for the smallest participant.
PRI11
Sovereign by design
Trust travels in the proof, not the place.
PRI12
Data-native
Evidence travels in the data; verify from the artifact alone.