ITU launches global AI trust and digital identity framework

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced the creation of a new Focus Group on Trust and Identity for Humans and Agentic AI. Launched at the AI for Good global summit, the group will develop international frameworks to ensure trustworthy digital identities and accountable behavior for autonomous AI agents, addressing risks such as impersonation and unauthorized actions in critical systems.

Co‑chairs Doreen Bogdan‑Martin, Debora Comparin and Amir Banifatemi outlined goals that include common terminology, reference architectures, trust‑management models, security criteria and a standardisation roadmap. The group will convene its first meeting in Paris in November 2026, followed by a second session in Geneva in January 2027, and will report to the ITU’s security standards expert group.

The initiative seeks to preserve meaningful human control for tasks like financial transactions and the operation of essential infrastructure, aiming to build a foundation for safe interaction between people and autonomous AI systems worldwide.