Forseti Life

Jurisdictional Reach

Geographic and organizational scope where authority applies.

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 jurisdictional reach. Authority applies nowhere.

Real-World Example: Entities with no geographic or organizational authority.

Authority limited to personal space or property. No broader jurisdiction.

Real-World Example: Homeowners (authority over own property only), car owners (authority over own vehicle), or individual contractors (authority over own work, no broader reach).

Authority within single facility or location. Building, office, or single site jurisdiction.

Real-World Example: Building managers (authority within building premises), store managers (authority within retail location), or school principals (authority within school campus during school hours).

Local or municipal jurisdiction. City, town, or county-level authority.

Real-World Example: City police (jurisdiction within city limits), municipal judges (local court jurisdiction), city council members (legislative authority for city), or county sheriffs (jurisdiction within county boundaries).

Regional jurisdiction across multiple counties or metro area. Multi-location authority.

Real-World Example: Regional hospital networks (authority across multiple facilities in region), regional transit authorities (jurisdiction over metro area transit), or state district courts (jurisdiction over multi-county judicial districts).

State or provincial jurisdiction. Authority across entire state.

Real-World Example: State governors (executive authority statewide), state supreme courts (judicial authority for state), state attorneys general (legal authority across state), or state regulatory agencies (DMV, health departments with statewide jurisdiction).

National or federal jurisdiction. Authority across entire country.

Real-World Example: FBI (federal law enforcement nationwide), federal judges (jurisdiction over federal matters nationally), Federal Reserve (monetary authority nationwide), or EPA (environmental regulation across all states).

Multi-national or regional bloc jurisdiction. Authority across multiple countries.

Real-World Example: European Union (regulatory authority across member states), NATO (military coordination across alliance), INTERPOL (international law enforcement coordination), or regional trade agreements (jurisdiction over member nations for trade matters).

Global jurisdiction recognized by international community. Worldwide authority in specific domains.

Real-World Example: UN Security Council (international peacekeeping authority), International Criminal Court (prosecute international crimes globally), WHO (international health regulations), or WTO (international trade dispute resolution).

Approaching universal jurisdiction. Authority applies everywhere without exception. Approaching god-like omnipresent authority.

Real-World Example: No real-world example exists. Level ∞ would require universal jurisdiction—authority that applies everywhere globally without exception, no jurisdictional boundaries, no sovereignty constraints. Even international law respects national sovereignty. This approaches divine omnipresent authority.
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