Provide ability to certify an information link or data set or analysis

Report developer is not responsible for the data quality, generally and that is a function ot the data modeller/DB. To help demonstrate that the report was built with valid sources (ERP DB vs Spreadsheet) it would help to add trust to users if the presented data linage could be audited.

It is possible that similar data is available from different data sources or a nefarious developer could insert data from a spreadsheet. 

I would see a "Lineage" check would go backwards from presentation to where the data entered Spotfire. 
It could be as simple as exposing the data table source definition build definition or table flow diagram to a curious web author.

e.g.
Visualization >> Attribute >> Information Link >> Data source

Visualization >> Calculated columns  >>Attributes >> spreadsheet

If an .sbdf file or Information link query and results were "certified" by an "audit group" ,Finance or Manufacturing or another team, then they could be allowed to check a "Certified" flag that would show the visualization lineage as "Certified".

Other BI tools have similar features built in to add trust.

Sure it's up to the report developer or publisher to certify where the data comes from? I don't really see how this could be part of Spotfire given that proper data lineage would usually go far beyond Spotfire's reach. I would recommend to look at data lineage tools available in the market. Aside from that I think your idea is too open and too wide. Perhaps suggesting how do you expect this information link certification to occur might help Tibco understand what exactly you are trying to achieve? Thanks