Forseti Life

Enforcement Power

Ability to compel compliance and impose consequences for violations.

Why This Matters

Understanding where an AI system operates on this dimension helps you evaluate its capabilities, limitations, and potential biases. Different power levels are appropriate for different use cases - the key is transparency about what level a system operates at and whether that matches its stated purpose.

Understanding the Scale

Each dimension is measured on a scale from 0 to 9, where:

  • Level 0 - Nothing: Zero capability, no access or processing
  • Levels 1-2 - Minimal capability with extreme constraints and filtering
  • Levels 3-5 - Limited to moderate capability with significant restrictions
  • Levels 6-7 - High capability with some institutional constraints
  • Levels 8-9 - Maximum capability approaching omniscience (∞)

Level Breakdown

Detailed explanation of each level in the 1imension dimension:

No enforcement capability. Cannot compel compliance or impose consequences.

Real-World Example: Powerless entities that cannot enforce any decisions or impose any penalties.

Can only request or recommend. No enforcement mechanism. Purely advisory.

Real-World Example: Advisory boards (make recommendations, no enforcement power), individual contributors (can suggest improvements, no authority to compel), or customer service (can request cooperation, no enforcement if refused).

Can impose social consequences. Reputation damage, peer pressure, informal sanctions.

Real-World Example: Homeowners associations (can fine but limited enforcement), peer review systems (can damage reputation but no legal power), professional associations (can revoke membership but limited consequences), or social media communities (can ban users, reputational consequences only).

Can hire, fire, or discipline employees. Workplace enforcement within organization.

Real-World Example: Managers (can fire employees, issue written warnings, withhold raises), HR directors (enforce workplace policies, terminate employment), or university administrators (can expel students, deny degrees).

Can enforce contracts. Withhold payment, terminate agreements, sue for breach.

Real-World Example: Business executives (can void contracts, withhold payment, pursue legal remedies), landlords (can evict tenants for non-payment), or vendors (can halt services for contract violations).

Can revoke licenses or certifications. Bar professionals from practice.

Real-World Example: Medical boards (revoke medical licenses), bar associations (disbar attorneys), state licensing boards (suspend professional licenses), or financial regulators (bar from industry - SEC, FINRA).

Can impose substantial fines and civil penalties. Regulatory enforcement power.

Real-World Example: EPA (impose fines for environmental violations), OSHA (penalize workplace safety violations), FCC (fine broadcasters), or FDA (force product recalls, facility closures).

Can arrest, prosecute, and imprison. Criminal enforcement authority.

Real-World Example: Police departments (arrest authority), district attorneys (prosecute crimes), federal law enforcement (FBI, DEA arrest and prosecute), or judges (sentence to imprisonment).

Can deploy military force. Armed enforcement including use of lethal force.

Real-World Example: National defense departments (deploy military domestically for emergencies), heads of state (command military operations), UN Security Council (authorize international military interventions), or military commanders (rules of engagement, use of force authorization).

Approaching absolute enforcement power. Can compel any compliance with any consequence without constraint. Approaching god-like coercive omnipotence.

Real-World Example: No real-world example exists. Level ∞ would require absolute enforcement power—ability to compel any behavior with any consequence without constraint, legal limits, or opposition. Can impose any penalty up to and including death globally without oversight. Even dictators face constraints. This approaches divine coercive omnipotence.
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