1. In a network computing environment comprising a plurality of interconnected systems where data is shared between the systems, a method of tracking the source, lineage, and integrity of data, the method comprising: accessing a dataset, the dataset having been signed by a first authority to ensure that the dataset has not been compromised; accessing lineage metadata associated with the dataset, the lineage metadata comprising data indicating the original source of the data and information about one or more operations which have been performed on the dataset, the information for each of the one or more operations including when the each operation was performed, an identity of an entity which performed the each operation, and the nature of the each operation, wherein the lineage metadata is signed by a second authority using a cryptographic certificate which allows dataset users to determine whether the lineage metadata has been compromised and whether to trust the second authority; determining a validity for the dataset by analyzing at least the signature of the first authority; determining a validity for the lineage metadata by analyzing at least the signature of the second authority; determining a trust level for the second authority; and based upon the determined validity of the dataset, the validity of the lineage metadata, and the determined trust level of the authority, performing an action that is associated with the dataset and the determined validity of the dataset, validity of the lineage metadata, and the trust level for the second authority.