The Future of Internet Trust: Creating Systems for Verified and Secure Interactions

https://www.cira.ca/en/resources/documents/state-of-internet/a-trust-layer-for-the-internet-is-emerging-a-2023-report/

“A trust layer for the internet is emerging,”

a report by CIRA and Continuum Loop, argues that pairing technical trust (e.g., encryption and signing) and human trust (e.g., governance) enables a trust layer to emerge. This allows the Internet community to create trustworthy digital ecosystems and rebuild trust in the Internet as a whole.

The report highlights that the Internet currently lacks this trust layer, and while we can build individual systems that have reasonably good security, we lack a shared framework and the set of tools needed to ensure trustworthy systems exist across all aspects of the internet.

The report suggests that by harnessing and creating new standards for both technical and human trust, we can create an interoperable, deeply trustworthy Internet to carry us into the next phases of its use.

One of the co-authors Jacques Latour, the CTO of CIRA will be joins us for a deep dive into trust and the Internet.

The conversation revolves around the concept of trust in a democratic society and how it should be integrated into the internet's infrastructure.

Key Points from the Discussion:

1. **Trust in the Internet's Early Days**: Initially, the internet, built on TCP/IP, lacked security and trust by design. Today, billions of users operate on an internet where the core protocol doesn't inherently include trust.

2. **Vision for a Trusted Internet**: The goal is to create a trusted internet where users can confidently interact with online resources. This involves addressing gaps in the current system and working towards a future where human trust is integral to internet interactions.

3. **Trust Over IP and Digital Trust**: The concept of Trust Over IP involves creating a framework where trust is embedded at all layers of the internet. This includes technical and governance aspects, ensuring that interactions are trustworthy.

4. **Human Trust vs. Technical Trust**: Trust is evolving from just encrypting data to ensuring human trust in online interactions. This means verifying the authenticity of the entities users interact with online.

5. **Trust Registries**: The discussion introduces the concept of trust registries, which are lists of trusted entities within a digital ecosystem. These registries are governed and provide a way to verify the authenticity of digital credentials and content.

6. **Challenges and Future Directions**: The conversation touches on the challenges of establishing trust online, especially in the context of AI and generated media. The future of trust on the internet involves creating systems where users can verify the authenticity of their interactions and the information they receive.

7. **Governance and Technology in Building Trust**: The integration of governance and technology is crucial in building a trusted internet. This involves public education, policy work, and creating conditions where trust can be established and...