ODTIS releases open specification for digital trust and AI authorization

ODTIS, the open initiative founded by FinnectOS, has released version 0.9.0 of its vendor-neutral digital trust specification for public review. The document targets gaps in identity verification, consent and authorization as AI agents, wallets and interoperable digital systems spread across finance, healthcare and government.

Why it matters: - ODTIS is trying to define open rules for how people, organizations and automated systems prove identity, share data and prove authorization online. - The specification targets a growing gap as AI agents act on behalf of users while sectors such as finance, healthcare and public administration rely on fragmented trust systems. - The initiative aims to reduce dependence on proprietary silos for identity and data exchange.

What happened: - ODTIS published version 0.9.0 of the Open Digital Trust Infrastructure Specification for public review on July 9, 2026. - The vendor-neutral specification is available at odtis.org under a Creative Commons license. - ODTIS was founded by FinnectOS Inc. - The public review period is open through odtis.org.

The details: - The specification defines two core functions: verifying identity online, including consent controls over personal data, and governed exchange of information among institutions without centralizing private data in one repository. - Version 0.9.0 includes the specification text, architecture documentation, governance and stewardship proposals, an adoption roadmap and community participation guidelines. - Supporting research materials are available through the Digital Trust Infrastructure collaborative initiative at digitaltrustinfrastructure.org. - FinnectOS Inc. maintains VenID, a reference implementation used to test conformance with the specification. - The initiative says no broadly adopted open framework currently establishes trust consistently across identity, consent and accountability. - The publication comes as wider deployment of AI agents, verifiable credentials, digital wallets, interoperable digital identity programs and programmable payment models accelerates. - Several advanced topics, including safeguards for AI agent authority, remain in early pilot stages.

Between the lines: - The release positions ODTIS as an attempt to create shared infrastructure standards before AI-driven delegation becomes more common. - The specification also signals an effort to bridge technical identity systems with governance questions around consent and accountability. - Industry, academic and public-sector stakeholders are already commenting during the review period. - FinnectOS currently serves as interim steward, while the long-term governance model under consideration includes an independent foundation.

What's next: - ODTIS plans to publish version 1.0 after external review. - The initiative also plans expanded reference architecture materials, open-source reference components, an academic working group and pilot implementations with institutions and integrators. - ODTIS and FinnectOS say further details are available at odtis.org and digitaltrustinfrastructure.org.

The bottom line: - ODTIS is pushing an open framework for identity, consent and AI authorization at a time when digital trust infrastructure is still fragmented.