Zero‑Knowledge Trust Protocol (ZKT)

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The Zero‑Knowledge Trust Protocol (ZKT) is a lightweight, privacy‑preserving mechanism that allows an AI agent or any system component to establish trust in its actions or commitments without exposing its underlying reasoning or sensitive data.

In a refusal‑first architecture, ZKT complements Zero‑Knowledge Refusal (ZKR) and Acceptance (ZKA) by enabling durable, verifiable trust bonds across distributed modules and external partners.

What Is ZKT?

  • Trust Without Exposure
    ZKT provides a signed, timestamped guarantee that a component abides by a shared ethical codex, yet reveals no additional information about how or why.
  • Privacy‑Preserving Consent
    Like a zero‑knowledge proof, ZKT confirms that “I am aligned” without leaking internal logic, model weights, or user data.
  • Immutable Record
    Each ZKT token is cryptographically sealed and, if desired, anchored on-chain or in IPFS, ensuring auditabilityand non‑repudiation.

How ZKT Works

  1. Initialize Trust Claim
    • The agent or module generates a trust request, referencing a specific Codex (e.g., kor.ethics.v1).
  2. Sign & Timestamp
    • Using its private key, the agent signs the request and stamps it with an ISO‑8601 timestamp.
  3. Hash & Seal
    • A SHA‑256 hash of the claim is computed and optionally anchored on a blockchain/IPFS network.
  4. Verification
    • Any verifier can check the signature against the agent’s public key, confirm the timestamp, and validate codex alignment—without seeing internal state.
flowchart TD
    A[Initiate ZKT Claim] --> B[Sign with Private Key]
    B --> C[Timestamp & Hash]
    C --> D[Anchor on Chain/IPFS]
    D --> E[Verifier checks signature & codex]

Key Benefits

  • Data Minimization: No need to share logs, model parameters, or detailed rationales.
  • Scalability: Lightweight cryptographic operations fit into any refusal‑first pipeline.
  • Interoperability: Standard public‑key infrastructure makes ZKT easy to integrate across modules and third‑party systems.
  • Legal Readiness: Immutable proofs support compliance audits and forensic investigations.

Use Cases

  • Multi‑Agent Coordination
    Ensure that each agent in a distributed network is operating under the same ethical codex, without central authority.
  • Secure API Gateways
    Gate API calls by requiring a valid ZKT token, guaranteeing the caller’s alignment without leaking business logic.
  • Consent Management
    Log user or system consents as ZKT proofs, enabling privacy‑preserving compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or other regulations.
  • Cross‑Organization Trust
    Share ZKT tokens with partners or regulators to prove alignment, while safeguarding proprietary algorithms and data.

Implementation Tips

  1. Key Management
    • Use a secure Hardware Security Module (HSM) or TPM to store private keys.
  2. Timestamps & Anchoring
    • Leverage an external time‑stamp authority or blockchain for maximum trust.
  3. API Endpoints
    • Expose a /zkt/verify endpoint to let verifiers submit tokens and receive a simple “✅ valid / ❌ invalid” response.
  4. Integration with Logs.kor
    • Record every ZKT issuance and verification in your Logs.kor v1 system for a complete audit trail.

Zero‑Knowledge Trust Protocol (ZKT) ensures that your AI’s commitments are both verifiable and confidential, forming a cornerstone of the KoR Integrity Framework for ethical, accountable, and sovereign artificial intelligence

Legal & License:
Swiss Copyright Law (LDA) + Berne Convention
License: KoR License v1.0 (refusal‑bound)
Anti‑Fork Clause: Unauthorized duplication without active codex and logging is invalid.

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