Etiset

Etiset is a fictional data governance protocol that appears in speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing materials. In these works, Etiset provides a standardized framework for how digital records are created, stored, shared, and retired, with an emphasis on consent, provenance, and privacy. It functions as a reference architecture rather than a single implementation.

Its core concept is a three-layer model comprising identity, policy, and action. The identity layer covers verifiable identities and attribute-based access controls. The policy layer codifies data-use rules, consent, retention schedules, and data minimization requirements. The action layer governs data operations, including logging, auditing, and revocation of access.

In fiction and games, Etiset serves to explore privacy, governance, and the economics of data markets. It often includes mechanisms for consent revocation, transparent provenance, and modular plug-ins that simulate different jurisdictional rules or technical constraints.

Origin and variants: The concept first appeared in a cluster of interconnected short stories and game supplements published in the late 21st century. Since then, writers and designers have produced multiple variants, each adapting Etiset to the world’s legal, technical, and cultural assumptions. There is no universal canonical specification.

Related topics include data governance, digital ethics, privacy by design, and provenance.