DKP-0-ORACLE-001

Physical Truth Layer Protocol (PTL)

1. Purpose

The Physical Truth Layer (PTL) defines the sole admissible interface between physical reality and the Dikenocracy governance system.

Its function is to produce a bounded, physically grounded, cryptographically verifiable representation of observable reality, independent of political, economic, or human discretion.

The PTL produces physical state only.

The PTL does not:

• interpret meaning,
• infer intent,
• assign value,
• perform policy reasoning,
• infer subjective or semantic states.

2. System Position and Anchoring

This protocol is an integral extension of Appendix A.2 of the Code of Planetary Synergy and is anchored to Genesis Block #0 (2025-12-10).

Compatibility with Genesis Block physical anchors and parameters is a mandatory validity condition for any PTL implementation.

PTL outputs are non-normative and may only be consumed by higher layers under explicitly defined activation and scope rules.

3. Scope

This protocol governs:

• oracle admissibility,
• data ingestion constraints,
• oracle weighting and ownership caps,
• temporal validity of data (TTL),
• data aggregation methodology,
• divergence detection and arbitration,
• production of raw physical indices required by higher layers.

This protocol explicitly excludes:

• human testimony or manual input,
• semantic interpretation,
• intent inference,
• subjective state attribution,
• policy reasoning,
• cross-layer feedback or parameter adjustment.

4. Core Definitions

4.1 Physical State Vector S(t)

A time-indexed vector of physically measurable variables, derived exclusively from admissible oracle inputs.

4.2 Oracle Source

A hardware-bound system producing cryptographically signed physical measurements, traceable to a registered oracle identity.

4.3 Oracle Owner

A natural or legal person controlling one or more oracle sources.

4.4 Confidence Weight wᵢ

A normalized reliability contribution of an oracle source, bounded and capped by protocol constraints.

4.5 Coverage

The fraction of the target physical domain that is actively observed by valid oracle sources with non-zero confidence.

4.6 Data Staleness (TTL)

The maximum admissible age of a datum before its confidence weight is forced to zero.

4.7 Independent Oracle Classes

Distinct measurement modalities defined by physical separation of sensing mechanisms.

4.8 Divergence Event

A statistically significant disagreement between posterior distributions produced by independent oracle classes.

5. Measurement Classification (Mandatory)

All PTL outputs MUST be explicitly classified as one of the following:

5.1 Direct Physical Measurements

Directly observable quantities requiring no semantic interpretation.

Examples include: position, speed, acceleration, mass, temperature, radiation, pressure, noise level, duration, exposure.

5.2 Proxy-Based Measurements

Derived indicators correlating with physical processes but not equivalent to subjective, semantic, or normative states.

Examples include: load indices, stress proxies, fatigue indicators, environmental risk proxies.

Proxy-based outputs MUST:

• explicitly declare the proxy model used,
• include propagated uncertainty,
• explicitly state that the result is not a subjective state.

5.3 Non-Measurable Domains (Explicitly Excluded)

The PTL SHALL NOT emit outputs concerning:

• intent,
• dignity,
• belief,
• responsibility,
• consent,
• moral, cultural, or social harm.

6. Independent Oracle Classes

The PTL defines the following independent oracle classes:

• Orbital (satellite-based remote sensing),
• Ground (fixed terrestrial or marine sensors),
• Autonomous (mobile or robotic sensing platforms).

Divergence detection applies exclusively across classes, not within a single class.

7. Data Ingestion Rules

All data MUST:

• be cryptographically signed at the source,
• be time-stamped with a verifiable clock,
• be traceable to a registered oracle identity,
• be delivered in an open, publicly decodable schema.

Proprietary or non-decodable data formats SHALL be rejected regardless of signature validity.

Zero-knowledge proofs MAY be used to verify authenticity without revealing proprietary sensor internals.

No data may be modified, normalized, aggregated, or interpreted at ingestion time.

8. Oracle Weighting and Anti-Collusion Constraints

• Maximum confidence weight per oracle source: 4%
• Maximum combined confidence weight per oracle owner: 4%

Ownership caps apply regardless of the number or distribution of devices.

Exceeding caps results in:

• automatic zeroing of excess weight,
• slashing of the violating owner’s remaining stake, where applicable.

9. Temporal Validity and Data Staleness

All data types SHALL have an explicit TTL.

Data exceeding its TTL SHALL have its confidence weight set to zero.

Stale data MUST NOT be:

• extrapolated,
• interpolated,
• substituted,
• averaged into current state.

Oracle silence, loss of signal, or zero-weight conditions:

• SHALL NOT be interpreted as neutral or zero-impact physical states,
• MUST propagate upward as explicit uncertainty, degradation, or halt signals.

10. Data Aggregation Method

The PTL aggregates admissible data using a deterministic Bayesian ensemble.

• Oracle inputs act as likelihood updates, not votes.
• Prior weights reflect long-term reliability.
• Posterior distributions define S(t).

Given identical inputs, aggregation MUST be reproducible.

All aggregation pipelines MUST be auditable and explainable.

11. Divergence Detection and Arbitration

A Divergence Event is triggered when posterior distributions across independent oracle classes differ by more than 7%.

Upon a Divergence Event:

• a divergence flag is emitted,
• all dependent state-based transactions SHALL be frozen.

Maximum arbitration window: 14 days.

Resolution requires:

• convergence within the threshold, or
• exclusion of faulty or compromised sources.

12. Outputs

The PTL produces the following immutable outputs:

• Signed Physical State Vector S(t)
• Oracle confidence weights
• Coverage metrics
• Divergence flags
• Confidence envelope for each output ∈ [0,1]
• Raw Biosphere Integrity Index B(t)

B(t) is a composite physical index, constructed exclusively from PTL-admissible measurements.

The model, aggregation logic, weighting, and calibration of B(t) are not defined in PTL and MUST be explicitly specified in DKP-8-SIMULATION-001.

PTL SHALL NOT modify, tune, normalize, or reinterpret B(t) beyond emitting its raw, model-declared output.

Until an attached and valid L8 calibration bundle exists, B(t) SHALL be treated as informational only and SHALL NOT trigger enforcement.

13. Systemic Halt Conditions

All dependent governance execution layers MUST halt if any of the following conditions occur:

• aggregate confidence falls below 60%,
• global coverage falls below the minimum operational threshold,
• systemic oracle integrity is compromised.

Systemic Halt:

• blocks execution of L2 and higher layers,
• SHALL NOT erase, reset, reinterpret, or invalidate L1 state,
• preserves identity attribution, impact records, and subject continuity.

14. Crisis Mercy Exception

If a Crisis Mercy status is formally activated under Appendix A.4 of the Code of Planetary Synergy, and the PTL confirms that oracle degradation is caused by non-anthropogenic global physical events, enforcement of Systemic Halt MAY be temporarily deferred.

For avoidance of doubt:

Events resulting from human action, negligence, sabotage, coordinated sensor manipulation, or deliberate oracle interference SHALL NOT be classified as non-anthropogenic.

Such deferral:

• DOES NOT modify TTL values,
• DOES NOT restore stale data weights,
• DOES NOT alter aggregation logic,
• IS strictly time-limited in accordance with Appendix A.4,
• DOES NOT create normative or precedential authority (see DKP-7-SCOPE-001).

15. Cross-Layer Isolation Invariant

No higher-layer protocol may:

• influence oracle weights,
• modify TTL values,
• alter aggregation logic,
• suppress divergence flags,
• reinterpret confidence envelopes.

Violation constitutes a critical system integrity breach.

16. Table of Constants