Seven pillars that collectively govern how digital representations of real people are created, deployed, and managed throughout their lifecycle.
The DPIF Governance Framework is structured around seven interdependent pillars. Each pillar addresses a distinct dimension of digital presence governance, from the initial grant of consent through to dispute resolution. Together, they form a complete lifecycle model that applies to any technology capable of representing a real person in digital environments.
The pillars are not independent rules but interlocking controls. Consent and Authority provides the legal basis; Fidelity and Integrity governs the quality of the representation; Transparency ensures affected parties are informed; Scope defines operational boundaries; Accountability creates the audit trail; Continuity addresses lifecycle transitions; and Dispute Resolution provides recourse when obligations are breached. Each pillar references and reinforces the others through a system of Contextual Presence Controls and Systemic Presence Controls.
Each pillar defines a governance domain with its own requirements, control objectives, and compliance criteria. The DPIF Control Model (DPIF-CM) maps specific controls to each pillar. Detailed specifications, scoring rubrics, and implementation guidance are published as separate instruments within the DPIF document suite.
Establishes informed, revocable consent as the foundation for all digital presence creation and deployment.
Ensures digital representations accurately reflect the principal and are protected against unauthorised modification.
Requires clear disclosure when people interact with digital representations rather than the actual person.
Defines the operational limits within which digital representations may act and interact.
Every action taken by or through a digital presence must be attributable, logged, and reviewable. Principals and operators share responsibility for compliance.
Governance must address what happens when a principal becomes incapacitated or dies. Digital presences require succession plans that preserve integrity and prevent misuse.
When conflicts arise between principals, operators, or affected parties, the framework provides structured resolution pathways including escalation, mediation, and adjudication mechanisms.
The DPIF Control Model distinguishes between two categories of control.
Contextual Presence Controls (CPCs) are applied at the point of deployment and govern how a specific digital presence operates within a defined context.
Systemic Presence Controls (SPCs) are embedded in the infrastructure, governance layer, or organisational policy and apply across all deployments.
The Control Model (DPIF-CM) maps each CPC and SPC to one or more governance pillars, specifying the control objective, scoring criteria, and compliance threshold. This dual-layer architecture ensures that governance operates both at the individual deployment level and at the systemic level, preventing gaps that single-layer models leave exposed.