Empowering Data Rights Holders with a Global Trusted Structure
The iSHARE framework and schema exist to enable data rights holders to have a global trusted structure for governing access to and usage of data. Central to this vision is the use of legal entity credentials and data rights credentials, which together provide a foundation of trust across different domains, countries, and continents. By ensuring that data is accessed only under legally binding agreements, iSHARE empowers organisations to control how their data is shared and utilised, while also facilitating secure and compliant delegation of data rights.
A Certified decentralised ecosystem for Legal Assurance and Data Rights
To achieve this, iSHARE is growing a global network of independent iSHARE certified issuers of participant credentials, built upon proven legal entity identity providers such as eIDAS, GLEIF, and DUNS. This ensures that all entities within the ecosystem adhere to the same validation processes, reinforcing legal assurance and trust across all interactions.
And next the network of independent certified iSHARE data rights credential issuers. These issuers allow data rights holders to delegate access to existing data within the ecosystem while maintaining full control. These credentials define:
- Who can access the data
- What claims need to be presented (e.g., iSHARE credentials, IDSA credentials)
- Which attributes can be accessed at which data service providers
- How data may be used, iSHARE Usage licenses specifying the purpose and permitted use of the data with every transaction.
These credentials are processed by an ecosystem of data service providers that already govern data for their clients, but now can share access to third parties with the legal proof that there is detailed attribute based consent by the data rights holder to do so. An increasing number of data service providers are conforming to iSHARE’s data rights framework. These include:
- (Energy) service providers
- Community platforms
- ERP’s
- SaaS companies across multiple industries
Through this growing ecosystem, data rights holders can unlock the value of their existing proprietary data while maintaining legal control. Instead of being limited to open data, AI models such as ChatGPT, Grok, DeepSeek, and sector-specific AI tools can securely process proprietary data (e.g., live energy consumption data) while ensuring compliance with the legal terms set by the data rights holder. Hence enabling secure and legally compliant data utilisation across domains.
Open Governance and Trust Interoperability
iSHARE is governed through an open and transparent process facilitated by the iSHARE Foundation. This governance model ensures that all elements—credential schemas, licenses, technical protocols, operational procedures, and legal terms—are managed collaboratively by the framework’s users, with clear and tightly defined minimum requirements.
In this way, iSHARE embodies the vision set forth by the European Commission’s Data Act, which aims to create a structured, legally assured, and federated approach to data sharing across the EU. By ensuring that data rights holders retain control over access and usage, iSHARE operationalises the principles of the Data Act, enabling secure and interoperable data sharing between businesses, governments, and individuals.iSHARE is governed through an open and transparent process facilitated by the iSHARE Foundation. This governance model ensures that all elements—schemas, licenses, technical protocols, operational procedures, and legal terms—are managed collaboratively by the framework’s users.
The goal is to maintain trust interoperability across domains, data spaces, and geographical regions, enabling seamless data exchange under legally binding agreements. Existing organisation credential issuers include entities such as the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, which leverages the Dutch eHerkenning schema for identity verification (eIDAS certified). Additionally, iSHARE is being widely adopted by data space authorities in sectors such as Logistics, Mobility, Construction, the Green Deal, Energy, and Agriculture.
A Collaborative and Decentralised Ecosystem
iSHARE is already a collaborative and federated ecosystem, expanding through close collaboration with other frameworks such as the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), Gaia-X, and other emerging data governance initiatives. Additionally, iSHARE actively contributes to collective efforts in JTC25, Trusted Data Transactions, and the Eclipse Dataspace Working Group, further strengthening its role in shaping global data interoperability.
Hence the ecosystem is evolving beyond its current data service providers that comply with iSHARE specifications to also include:
- IDSA-compliant parties, particularly those using the EDC (Eclipse Dataspace Connector) and other data space protocol implementations.
- Cloud service providers that meet Gaia-X trust labels and compliance requirements.
By ensuring seamless interoperability with these frameworks and components and actively engaging in global standardisation efforts, iSHARE enables a broader network of trusted participants to securely and legally access and utilise data, reinforcing trust and compliance across domains, regions, and sectors.
Unlocking the Full Potential of Data at Source
By ensuring trust, legal assurance, and interoperability, iSHARE enables organisations and individuals to maximise the value of their data at source. This structured, legally backed approach ensures that data is shared securely, fairly, and efficiently, fostering innovation and economic growth in a data-driven world.
