Consultation Framework

Purpose

Specify minimum requirements for participatory governance, especially for Tier 2–3 systems where harms can be widespread or irreversible.

Ethical Mapping

• A6 Participation & Consultation
• A3 Justice, Due Process, and Remedy

Requirements (Normative)

CF-1. For Tier 2–3 deployments, operators MUST conduct structured consultation with:

• domain experts (technical + social impact)
• affected parties or their legitimate representatives
• regulators or relevant public-interest bodies (where applicable)

CF-2. Consultation MUST occur early enough to materially shape system design, not only after deployment decisions are finalized.

CF-3. Consultation records MUST include:

• who was consulted (roles, not necessarily identities)
• what risks/benefits were presented
• questions raised and responses
• decisions made and reasoning
• unresolved concerns and mitigation plan

CF-4. When consultation inputs are not adopted, the decision owner MUST document the rationale and compensating controls.

CF-5. Consultation materials SHOULD be published, redacting only what is necessary for privacy, safety, or legal constraints.

Compliance Evidence

• consultation plan and timeline
• agendas, minutes, and synthesized feedback report
• decision memo linking feedback to design/control changes
• publication/redaction log