INDEPENDENT MERCHANT INTELLIGENCEPUBLIC BETA / SEPTEMBER 2026 BASELINE
learn / Merchant field guide

Identity, intent and authorization

Knowing which agent sent a request is different from knowing what it may buy.

Merchant answer / Editorial synthesis

Identity asks who is acting. Intent describes what a person wants. Authorization defines the permitted action and its constraints. A valid connection or authenticated tool call does not automatically authorize a purchase. Your integration needs a clear handoff from human intent to deterministic validation.

What this establishes
A practical way to inspect evidence and make the next merchant decision.

What it cannot establish
Live merchant deployment, private account eligibility, purchase completion or guaranteed AI selection.

Evidence dates and document versions remain attached to the ledger below. Editorial presentation reviewed 30 September 2026; this is not a new source verification.

Ask three separate questions

Identity asks who is acting. Intent describes what a person wants. Authorization defines the permitted action and its constraints. A valid connection or authenticated tool call does not automatically authorize a purchase. Your integration needs a clear handoff from human intent to deterministic validation.

Make the scope inspectable

A useful authorization record should be bounded to the relevant transaction or permitted action. In its documented scope, AP2 uses checkout/payment mandates and receipts. Do not infer that a generic agent token carries the same meaning. Read the exact protocol version and provider responsibilities before implementing any verifier.

Preserve evidence and handle failure

Define what happens when a constraint is no longer satisfied, a request is repeated or a user revokes access. Keep the data required by your approved provider workflow, minimize unrelated information and ensure the merchant can explain the decision. The L0 scanner cannot verify these private controls.

Your next step

Evidence ledger

Go to the source.

Primary documentation records what is publicly stated. It does not independently prove outcomes or your account’s eligibility.

  • Agentic Payment Protocol v0.2

    AP2 project · official primary · Checked 2026-09-28

    Claim scope: Authorization mandates and receipts

    Payment authorization within a commerce protocol; catalog API details are out of scope.

    Source ID: ap2-spec · Published: Not stated

  • Request for framework feedback

    EMVCo · official primary · Checked 2026-09-28

    Claim scope: Consultation status

    Comment period closes September 30, 2026.

    Source ID: emv-news · Published: 2026-09-01

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