Semantic interoperability at W3C

W3C Jargon

Structure of the talk

• Linked data
• Metadata
• Authentic data
• Decentralized data

Linked data standards

JSON-LD

JSON-LD allows to encode RDF data in JSON, and to interpret legacy JSON data as RDF.

• Recommendation: JSON-LD 1.1 (2020)
• WG in maintenance mode
• CG incubating new work
• Report: YAML-LD (work in progress)

RDF-star

Extends RDF and SPARQL with the ability to concisely represent and query statements about statements.

→ Interoperability with Property Graphs

• Report: RDF-star and SPARQL-star (2021)
• WG launched in Nov 2022
• RDF 1.2 and SPARQL 1.2 recommendations expected in 2024

Linked Data as an interoperability layer

Data Catalog Vocabulary (DCAT)

An RDF vocabulary designed to facilitate interoperability between data catalogs published on the Web.

• Recommendation: DCAT 2 (2020)
• Dataset Exchange WG still active
• Recommendation: DCAT 3 expected in September 2023
  latest draft published on 07 March 2023

Profiles

A specification that constrains, extends, combines, or provides guidance or explanation about the usage of other specifications.

Examples: DCAT-AP, StatDCAT-AP, GeoDCAT-AP

• Note: The Profile Vocabulary (2019)
• Draft recommendation: Content Negotiation by Profile (2019)
• Renewed momentum around this work item

Authentic data standards

Verifiable Credentials

A credential is a set of one or more claims made by the same entity.

• Recommendation: Verifiable Credentials Data Model 1.1 (2019, rev. 2022)
• WG still active (Data Model 2.0, Data Integrity)
• Already largely deployed
  (inc. in the Gaia-X Trust Framework)
• CG also very active

Decentralized Identifiers

A new type of identifier that enables verifiable, decentralized digital identity. (...) The design enables the controller of a DID to prove control over it without requiring permission from any other party.

• Recommendation: Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) v1.0 (2022)
• WG in maintenance mode
• (but working on a new charter)

RDF Dataset Canonicalization & Hash

Define a standard to uniquely and deterministically calculate a hash of RDF Datasets for use cases such as Detecting changes in Datasets

... or signing, independently of the concrete serialization.

• WG launched in 2022
• Draft recommendation: RDF Dataset Canonicalization (Feb 2023)

Solid

A project initiated by Tim Berners-Lee since 2010+ aiming to re-decentralize the web and give more control to end users (mid-course correction).

• based on RDF and Linked Data Platform
• developed by a CG, and soon a WG
• raising interest among start-ups and governments

Solid architecture