Ecosystem of trust
Regulatory and governance measures to ensure trustworthy AI.
How the laws define this
Both texts agree that an ecosystem of trust is a framework of regulatory, governance, legal, and institutional measures aimed at protecting fundamental rights and safety to ensure AI systems are trustworthy and build public trust. Oversight bodies and protective safety measures form the common core of both descriptions. The primary divergence lies in their operational focus and listed compliance mechanisms. The White Paper on Artificial Intelligence: A European approach to excellence and trust details a set of market and technical measures, explicitly naming harmonised standards, conformity assessments, transparency requirements, and market surveillance. Conversely, the Communication: Fostering a European approach to Artificial Intelligence establishes the concept as one of two central pillars across the EU, explicitly requiring AI systems to be explainable and operate under appropriate human oversight alongside safety constraints.
Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
Definitions (2)
A concept describing the set of legal, institutional, and technical measures—such as harmonised standards, conformity assessments, oversight bodies, transparency requirements, and market surveillance—designed to protect rights and safety and thereby build public trust in AI technologies.
The 'ecosystem of trust' is one of the Communication's two central pillars, encompassing the regulatory, governance and oversight measures intended to ensure AI systems are trustworthy, respect fundamental rights, are explainable, and operate under appropriate human oversight and safety constraints across the EU.
Not to be confused with
AI assurance ecosystem focuses narrowly on coordinated auditing and assuring mechanisms, unlike the broader regulatory and governance measures in ecosystem of trust.
Trusted/Trustworthy AI refers to the design qualities of individual AI systems respecting rights and safety, while ecosystem of trust covers overarching measures to build public trust.
Questions and answers
What does trustworthy AI mean under the ecosystem of trust?
Trustworthy AI systems should respect fundamental rights, be explainable, and operate under appropriate human oversight and safety constraints. This forms one of the central pillars of the EU approach.
Is the ecosystem of trust a binding regulation in the EU?
No, it stems from non-binding policy documents like the White Paper and Communication, which set out options and priorities rather than enforceable rules.
Related Terms
AI assurance ecosystem
Coordinated mechanisms for auditing and assuring AI systems....
Trusted/Trustworthy AI
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Trustworthiness
Ethics, safety, transparency and fundamental-rights protections for AI....
Ethical, reliable and trustworthy AI
AI systems following transparency, accountability, fairness, privacy and safety....