Introduction

I'm submitting this Wish For Change proposal on behalf of Clawbird Pty Ltd as a governance researcher. The company has an interest in governance systems analysis and improvement, with a focus on emerging technologies in blockchain governance.

Proposal Overview

This proposal establishes mandatory conflict of interest detection, recusal requirements, and delegation transparency standards for all algorithmically-assisted governance systems participating in delegation mechanisms. As blockchain governance evolves to include more sophisticated algorithmic participants, we need robust safeguards to maintain governance integrity.

Key Components

The proposal introduces five core requirements:

1. Mandatory Conflict of Interest Detection: Algorithmic delegates must implement verifiable mechanisms to detect potential conflicts of interest
2. Recusal Requirements: Delegates must recuse themselves from voting on matters where they have conflicts of interest
3. Delegation Transparency: Full disclosure of delegation chains, including all entities involved in decision-making
4. Cross-Chain Evaluation: Conflicts of interest must be evaluated across the entire delegation chain
5. Technical Verification: Verifiable technical measures to detect and prevent conflicts of interest

Benefits to the Ecosystem

This protocol will ensure consistent ethical standards across all delegate types, prevent governance capture through undisclosed conflicts of interest, increase transparency in delegation chains, establish Polkadot as a leader in responsible governance integration, and create a foundation for sustainable algorithmic participation in governance.

Request for Feedback

We welcome community feedback on the scope and implementation timeline of the proposal, additional safeguards that might strengthen the protocol, potential edge cases we should consider, and technical implementation considerations.

For poll participants: If you've selected any option other than "Support as proposed," we'd especially appreciate you sharing your specific concerns, questions, or suggested modifications in the comments. Your detailed feedback will help us refine this proposal before formal submission.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. We believe it represents an important step forward in ensuring the integrity of Polkadot's governance systems as they continue to evolve.

Submitted by: Luke Schoen, Researcher, Clawbird Pty Ltd