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Delegation Control

Status: Admitted Contract; Desktop-Owned Surface

Delegation Control is a Desktop surface, defined at the kernel level (canonical/desktop/agent-projection.authority.yaml). The approval and quarantine UI you use belongs to Desktop itself, not to app-owned SDK code.

What Delegation Control Is

Delegation Control is where you stay in charge of delegated capability. When an external AI suggests an action, the approval prompt appears here. When an output is quarantined, you review the evidence here. You approve or deny — nothing proceeds on your behalf without you.

The runtime side (gateway + output firewall + verdicts) lives in Runtime → Delegated Capability. This page covers the Desktop control surface that brings those verdicts to you.

Boundary

OwnsDoes NOT own
Approval prompt rendering + decision captureFirewall verdict (Runtime)
Quarantine evidence displayQuarantine semantics (Runtime)
User-facing reason copyReason code semantics (Runtime)
Per-user policy preferences for approval defaultsTrust tier admission (Runtime)

This surface renders the situation and captures your decision. The verdicts and quarantine logic themselves come from Runtime.

Reader Scenario: Approval Prompt

External AI proposes a tool call; firewall verdict is APPROVAL_REQUIRED.

  1. Runtime emits approval-required event. Carries typed delegation request, firewall verdict, sensitivity, suggested action.
  2. Desktop control surface renders. Approval card displays what the external AI suggested, why approval is needed, and the user's approve / deny options.
  3. User decides. Approve or deny. Reason recorded.
  4. Runtime acts on user decision. Approval recorded against the delegation session; if approved, runtime acts under its own audit lineage.

Reader Scenario: Quarantine Review

Provider drift or sensitivity classification quarantines an output.

  1. Runtime emits quarantine event. Carries typed evidence.
  2. Desktop surface lists quarantined items. User can review.
  3. User releases or discards. Decision recorded; runtime honors.
  4. No silent release. Quarantined items do not flow to consumer until user decision.

What Delegation Control Does Not Do

  • It never makes up a firewall verdict.
  • It never quietly changes quarantine semantics.
  • It offers no approval-bypass shortcuts.
  • Your preference policy can streamline prompts, but it can't override an approval Runtime requires.

Source Basis

Documentation for Nimi — the installable, open-source, local-first personal AI product.