Section navigation
1Scope2Normative References3Terms and Definitions4Applicability5Control Family Structure6ARCS-LIF: Record Lifecycle7ARCS-CUS: Custody Surface8ARCS-TAX: Record Taxonomy9ARCS-OPB: Operator Boundary10ARCS-PUB: Publish Boundary11ARCS-NCR: Non-Creation12ARCS-PV: Preservation13ARCS-VER: Verification14ARCS-AGT: Agent Runtime15ARCS-DEL: Delegation and Memory16Conformance17Limitations and Non-Claims18Relationship to Other Frameworks19Versioning and Amendment Control

ARCS v1.0

Standard Text

ARCS defines governance controls for the lifecycle, custody, retention, preservation, and deletion of interaction records generated by automated systems during human-directed operation. The standard is organized into 19 sections across three layers: foundational definitions, ten control family domains, and conformance and versioning provisions.

Automated Record Custody Standard (ARCS)

Version 1.0 · Published · April 2026

Published by Vega Commons Project, Inc.

This version supersedes all prior versions. Conformance claims referencing prior versions are subject to Section 19 transition provisions.

Normative keywords (SHALL, MUST, SHOULD, MAY, and related terms) are interpreted per IETF RFC 2119 and BCP 14.

Foundation

1Scope2Normative References3Terms and Definitions4Applicability5Control Family Structure

Control Families

Each family defines a governance domain. The corresponding control statements are maintained in the Controls catalog.

6ARCS-LIF: Record Lifecycle7ARCS-CUS: Custody Surface8ARCS-TAX: Record Taxonomy9ARCS-OPB: Operator Boundary10ARCS-PUB: Publish Boundary11ARCS-NCR: Non-Creation12ARCS-PV: Preservation13ARCS-VER: Verification14ARCS-AGT: Agent Runtime15ARCS-DEL: Delegation and Memory

Conformance and Versioning

16Conformance17Limitations and Non-Claims18Relationship to Other Frameworks19Versioning and Amendment Control