https://stackresearch.org/tags/accountability/Recent content in Accountability on Stack ResearchHugoen-usTue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://stackresearch.org/research/nhi-asi-series-05-human-use-of-nhi/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://stackresearch.org/research/nhi-asi-series-05-human-use-of-nhi/<p>The audit log says the machine acted. The real question is who meant for it to act.</p> <p>An engineer uses an automation token to run a one-off maintenance task. The token already has the right access. The work is urgent. The safer path takes longer. Later, an agent uses the same token to approve a sensitive action because the credential still works and the tool accepts it. When the action is questioned, the log shows the non-human identity. It does not show the human intent that first bent the identity out of shape.</p>