Core Values
These four values form the foundation of the Tractatus Framework.
1. Sovereignty
Principle: Individuals and communities must maintain control over decisions affecting their data, privacy, values, and agency. AI systems must preserve human sovereignty, not erode it.
2. Transparency
Principle: All AI decisions must be explainable, auditable, and reversible. No black boxes. Users deserve to understand how and why systems make choices.
3. Harmlessness
Principle: AI systems must not cause harm through action or inaction. This includes preventing drift, detecting degradation, and enforcing boundaries against values erosion.
4. Community
Principle: AI safety is a collective endeavor. We are committed to open collaboration, knowledge sharing, and empowering communities to shape the AI systems that affect their lives.
Architectural Principles
Our values—sovereignty, transparency, harmlessness, community—guide what we build. Our architectural principles guide how we build it.
Drawing on Christopher Alexander's work in architectural pattern languages, we've identified five structural principles for governance systems.
Deep Interlock
Six governance services coordinate through mutual validation, not isolated checks.
Connects to Transparency: Service coordination creates audit trails.
Structure-Preserving
Framework changes enhance without breaking.
Connects to Accountability: Structure-preserving transformations.
Gradients Not Binary
Governance operates on intensity scales (NORMAL/ELEVATED/HIGH/CRITICAL).
Connects to Harmlessness: Gradients prevent both under-response and over-response.
Living Process
The framework evolves from operational failures, not predetermined design.
Connects to Community: Living process means continuous learning.
Not-Separateness
Governance is woven into the deployment architecture, not bolted on.
Connects to Sovereignty: Not-separateness ensures AI cannot bypass governance.
Note: These principles were integrated into the framework as it evolved.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi & Digital Sovereignty
Context: The Tractatus Framework is developed in Aotearoa New Zealand. We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as foundational.
This acknowledgment is not performative. Digital sovereignty—the principle that communities control their own data and technology—has deep roots in indigenous frameworks.
Why This Matters for AI Safety
Te Tiriti o Waitangi establishes principles of partnership, protection, and participation.
- Rangatiratanga (sovereignty): Communities must control decisions affecting their data and values.
- Kaitiakitanga (guardianship): AI systems must be stewards, not exploiters, of data and knowledge.
- Mana (authority & dignity): Technology must respect human dignity and cultural context.
- Whanaungatanga (relationships): AI safety is collective, not individual—relationships matter.
Our Approach
We do not claim to speak for Māori or indigenous communities. Instead, we:
- Follow established frameworks: We align with current Māori data governance work and CARE Principles.
- Respect without tokenism: Te Tiriti forms part of our strategic foundation.
- Avoid premature engagement: We will not approach Māori organizations for endorsement until we have demonstrated alignment.
- Document and learn: We study indigenous data sovereignty principles and incorporate them architecturally.
Te Tiriti Principles in Practice
- Partnership: AI systems should be developed in partnership with affected communities, not imposed.
- Protection: The framework protects against values erosion.
- Participation: Communities maintain agency over AI decisions affecting their data and values.
Indigenous Data Sovereignty
Indigenous data sovereignty is the principle that indigenous peoples have the right to govern data about themselves.
CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance
The Tractatus Framework aligns with the CARE Principles, developed by indigenous data sovereignty leaders.
Data ecosystems shall enable Indigenous Peoples to derive benefit from the data.
Indigenous Peoples' rights and interests in Indigenous data must be recognized and supported.
Those working with Indigenous data have a responsibility to share how data are used.
Indigenous Peoples' rights and wellbeing should be the primary concern.
Resources & Further Reading
-
Te Kāhui Raraunga – Māori Data Governance →
Operative body for Māori data governance in Aotearoa.
-
CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance →
International framework for indigenous data rights.
Governance & Accountability
Values without enforcement are aspirations. The Tractatus Framework implements them.
Strategic Review Protocol
Quarterly reviews of framework alignment with stated values.
Values Alignment Framework
All major decisions must pass values alignment checks.
Human Oversight Requirements
AI-generated content requires human review.
Community Accountability
Open source development means community oversight.
Our Commitment
These values are not negotiable. They form the architectural foundation of the Tractatus Framework.
- Preserving human sovereignty over values decisions
- Maintaining radical transparency in all framework operations
- Preventing harm through structural constraints, not promises
- Building and empowering community, not extracting from it
- Respecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi and indigenous data sovereignty
When in doubt, we choose human agency over AI capability. Always.