IGF 2025 Open Forum #25 Governance Driven Trust Registries

This presentation explores the critical role of governance-driven trust registries in addressing challenges of trust, accountability, and transparency in decentralized digital ecosystems. It outlines a comprehensive model for digital governance and trust establishment, emphasizing the need for risk assessment, conformance programs, and governance frameworks. The paper introduces trust registries as a flexible, scalable alternative to traditional hierarchical trust models, enabling the validation of claims through decentralized authority statements within a shared governance structure. This presentation explores the role of governance and trust registries in addressing this complexity and outlines their importance in enhancing ecosystem trust. Specifically, it: Defines the roles of governing authorities, governed parties and trust registries within an ecosystem. Details the processes to establish a governance framework upon a trust registry is based. Discuss the complementary relationship between trust registries and the ecosystem’s governance framework. Highlight technical considerations and standards that can support the implementation of proper governance and trust registry operation. Conclude with actionable steps for the ecosystem leadership to explore governance and trust registry solutions with its stakeholders. Key topics include the distinction between organizational, ecosystem, and registry of trust registries, as well as their role in enabling high-integrity digital interactions. By decoupling authority from centralized models, trust registries democratize trust establishment, fostering inclusivity, interoperability, and scalability. Technical considerations, standards compliance, and governance alignment are discussed as essential components for successful implementation.

Session will include slides and a demonstration that should provide a rich and inclusive experience for on-site and online participants.