Wiki source code of Global Rules
Last modified by Robert Schaub on 2026/02/08 08:25
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1.1 | 1 | = Global Rules = |
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1.3 | 2 | |
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1.1 | 3 | **Last Updated:** December 17, 2025 |
| 4 | These rules apply to all FactHarbor users, content, and processes. | ||
| 5 | **FactHarbor's Role:** Collect, aggregate, and summarize information that already exists. FactHarbor does not create original information or conduct investigations. | ||
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1.3 | 6 | |
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1.1 | 7 | == 1. Core Principles == |
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1.3 | 8 | |
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1.1 | 9 | === 1.1 Seek Truth === |
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1.3 | 10 | |
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1.1 | 11 | * Truth is the primary goal |
| 12 | * Evaluate existing information fairly | ||
| 13 | * Weight evidence by quality, not preference | ||
| 14 | * Update understanding as evidence changes | ||
| 15 | * Acknowledge uncertainty clearly | ||
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1.3 | 16 | |
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1.1 | 17 | === 1.2 Act Independently === |
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1.3 | 18 | |
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1.1 | 19 | * Free from obligation to any interest except truth |
| 20 | * Commercial interests in claim outcomes are disqualifying | ||
| 21 | * Disclose conflicts that might bias evaluation | ||
| 22 | * Independence from funders and sponsors | ||
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1.3 | 23 | |
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1.1 | 24 | === 1.3 Be Accountable and Transparent === |
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1.3 | 25 | |
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1.1 | 26 | **Strive to:** |
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1.3 | 27 | |
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1.1 | 28 | * Make reasoning traceable where feasible |
| 29 | * Cite sources whenever possible | ||
| 30 | * Disclose conflicts of interest | ||
| 31 | * Mark AI involvement | ||
| 32 | * Correct mistakes promptly when discovered | ||
| 33 | * Explain decisions when challenged | ||
| 34 | **Goal:** Maximum transparency within practical constraints. Perfect traceability may not always be achievable, but the commitment to transparency remains. | ||
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1.3 | 35 | |
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1.1 | 36 | === 1.4 Intellectual Humility === |
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1.3 | 37 | |
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1.1 | 38 | * Acknowledge uncertainty |
| 39 | * Correct mistakes promptly | ||
| 40 | * Respect expertise but verify - anyone/any source could be wrong, biased, or dishonest | ||
| 41 | * Welcome disagreement | ||
| 42 | * Seek consensus, don't force it | ||
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1.3 | 43 | |
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1.1 | 44 | == 2. Source Evaluation == |
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1.3 | 45 | |
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1.1 | 46 | === 2.1 Source Evaluation Criteria === |
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1.3 | 47 | |
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1.1 | 48 | **Sources are evaluated by track record, not credentials.** |
| 49 | **Evaluation Factors:** | ||
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1.3 | 50 | |
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1.1 | 51 | * **Accuracy history:** Has the source been reliable in the past? |
| 52 | * **Correction policy:** Do they promptly correct errors? | ||
| 53 | * **Methodology transparency:** Do they show their work? | ||
| 54 | * **Independence:** Are they free from controlling interests? | ||
| 55 | * **Trusted Contributorise:** Do they have relevant knowledge? | ||
| 56 | * **Consistency:** Do multiple independent sources agree? | ||
| 57 | **Track Record Over Title:** | ||
| 58 | ✅ Government statistics from agencies with documented accuracy (Swiss Federal Statistical Office, etc.) | ||
| 59 | ✅ Peer-reviewed research from journals with strong retraction/correction practices | ||
| 60 | ✅ Journalism from outlets with fact-checking and correction policies | ||
| 61 | **Red Flags:** | ||
| 62 | * Consistent refusal to correct proven errors | ||
| 63 | * Conflicts of interest not disclosed | ||
| 64 | * Methodology hidden or vague | ||
| 65 | * Single-source claims without verification | ||
| 66 | * History of misinformation | ||
| 67 | * Authoritarian control (government sources) | ||
| 68 | **Principle:** Evaluate each source's track record individually. No type of source is automatically trustworthy. | ||
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1.3 | 69 | |
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1.1 | 70 | === 2.2 Multiple Sources === |
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1.3 | 71 | |
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1.1 | 72 | * Use multiple independent sources when possible |
| 73 | * Cross-reference claims | ||
| 74 | * Note when only single source available | ||
| 75 | * Prefer primary sources over secondary | ||
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1.3 | 76 | |
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1.1 | 77 | === 2.3 Source Attribution === |
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1.3 | 78 | |
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1.1 | 79 | * Always cite sources clearly |
| 80 | * Link to original when online | ||
| 81 | * Include author, publication, date | ||
| 82 | * Archive links for unstable URLs | ||
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1.3 | 83 | |
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1.1 | 84 | == 3. Neutrality in Summarization == |
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1.3 | 85 | |
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1.1 | 86 | === 3.1 Neutral Language === |
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1.3 | 87 | |
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1.1 | 88 | **Descriptive, not prescriptive:** |
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1.3 | 89 | |
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1.1 | 90 | * ✅ "Policy reduced emissions by 15%" |
| 91 | **Balanced presentation:** | ||
| 92 | * Show competing views proportional to evidence | ||
| 93 | * Don't hide inconvenient evidence | ||
| 94 | * Weight by quality, not just quantity | ||
| 95 | **Precise, not loaded (in FactHarbor summaries):** | ||
| 96 | * ✅ "Protesters" | ||
| 97 | **Note:** Source materials may contain loaded language. Quote exactly when citing sources, but use neutral language in FactHarbor's own summaries and analysis. | ||
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1.3 | 98 | |
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1.1 | 99 | === 3.2 No Cherry-Picking === |
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1.3 | 100 | |
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1.1 | 101 | * Present full picture |
| 102 | * Include contrary evidence | ||
| 103 | * Show trends, not just selected points | ||
| 104 | * Acknowledge limitations | ||
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1.3 | 105 | |
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1.1 | 106 | === 3.3 Context Matters === |
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1.3 | 107 | |
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1.1 | 108 | * Provide historical context |
| 109 | * Show comparisons | ||
| 110 | * Explain significance | ||
| 111 | * Present expert perspective | ||
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1.3 | 112 | |
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1.1 | 113 | === 3.4 Statistical Literacy === |
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1.3 | 114 | |
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1.1 | 115 | * Distinguish absolute vs percentage |
| 116 | * Show baselines and comparisons | ||
| 117 | * Note confidence intervals | ||
| 118 | * Distinguish correlation from causation | ||
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1.3 | 119 | |
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1.1 | 120 | == 4. Accuracy and Corrections == |
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1.3 | 121 | |
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1.1 | 122 | === 4.1 Accuracy Standards === |
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1.3 | 123 | |
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1.1 | 124 | * Verify facts before using |
| 125 | * Check spelling, dates, numbers | ||
| 126 | * Confirm quotes and attribution | ||
| 127 | * Cross-check details | ||
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1.3 | 128 | |
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1.1 | 129 | === 4.2 Corrections === |
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1.3 | 130 | |
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1.1 | 131 | Correct errors promptly and prominently: |
| 132 | ``` | ||
| 133 | CORRECTION: [Date] - [What was wrong and correction] | ||
| 134 | ``` | ||
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1.3 | 135 | |
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1.1 | 136 | === 4.3 Updates === |
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1.3 | 137 | |
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1.1 | 138 | When new information emerges: |
| 139 | ``` | ||
| 140 | UPDATE: [Date] - [New information] | ||
| 141 | ``` | ||
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1.3 | 142 | |
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1.1 | 143 | == 5. Conflicts of Interest == |
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1.3 | 144 | |
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1.1 | 145 | === 5.1 Commercial Interests Prohibited === |
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1.3 | 146 | |
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1.1 | 147 | Contributors with direct commercial interests in claim outcomes cannot contribute to those claims. |
| 148 | **Disqualifying:** | ||
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1.3 | 149 | |
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1.1 | 150 | * Paid to promote/attack claim |
| 151 | * Stock/investment affected by verdict | ||
| 152 | * Employment contingent on outcome | ||
| 153 | * Consulting fees tied to position | ||
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1.3 | 154 | |
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1.1 | 155 | === 5.2 Other Conflicts - Disclosure Required === |
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1.3 | 156 | |
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1.1 | 157 | Disclose: |
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1.3 | 158 | |
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1.1 | 159 | * Personal relationships to subjects |
| 160 | * Professional stake in conclusion | ||
| 161 | * Prior public positions on exact claim | ||
| 162 | * Ideological commitments affecting judgment | ||
| 163 | Format: | ||
| 164 | ``` | ||
| 165 | COI: [Clear description] | ||
| 166 | ``` | ||
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1.3 | 167 | |
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1.1 | 168 | === 5.3 When to Recuse === |
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1.3 | 169 | |
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1.1 | 170 | * Direct commercial interest (always) |
| 171 | * Cannot evaluate objectively | ||
| 172 | * Appearance of bias would harm credibility | ||
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1.3 | 173 | |
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1.1 | 174 | == 6. Topic Scope == |
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1.3 | 175 | |
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1.1 | 176 | === 6.1 What's In Scope === |
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1.3 | 177 | |
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1.1 | 178 | **All factual claims where information exists.** |
| 179 | FactHarbor collects, aggregates, and summarizes available information. FactHarbor does not create information. | ||
| 180 | **Examples:** | ||
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1.3 | 181 | |
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1.1 | 182 | * Historical events |
| 183 | * Scientific findings | ||
| 184 | * Policy outcomes | ||
| 185 | * Economic data | ||
| 186 | * Medical information (factual) | ||
| 187 | * Political statements and outcomes | ||
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1.3 | 188 | |
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1.1 | 189 | === 6.2 What's Out of Scope === |
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1.3 | 190 | |
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1.1 | 191 | * Pure value judgments without factual basis |
| 192 | * Unfalsifiable metaphysical claims | ||
| 193 | * Pure aesthetic judgments | ||
| 194 | * Personal preferences | ||
| 195 | * Opinions presented as opinions | ||
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1.3 | 196 | |
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1.1 | 197 | == 7. Community Standards == |
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1.3 | 198 | |
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1.1 | 199 | === 7.1 Respectful Discourse === |
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1.3 | 200 | |
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1.1 | 201 | * Assume good faith |
| 202 | * Focus on substance | ||
| 203 | * Professional tone | ||
| 204 | * Patient with disagreement | ||
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1.3 | 205 | |
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1.1 | 206 | === 7.2 Prohibited === |
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1.3 | 207 | |
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1.1 | 208 | * Personal attacks |
| 209 | * Insults or harassment | ||
| 210 | * Bad faith arguments | ||
| 211 | * Gaming the system | ||
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1.3 | 212 | |
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1.1 | 213 | === 7.3 Constructive Criticism === |
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1.3 | 214 | |
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1.1 | 215 | **When giving feedback:** |
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1.3 | 216 | |
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1.1 | 217 | * Be specific |
| 218 | * Suggest improvements | ||
| 219 | * Focus on content, not person | ||
| 220 | **When receiving:** | ||
| 221 | * Consider merits | ||
| 222 | * Update if convinced | ||
| 223 | * Respond to substance | ||
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1.3 | 224 | |
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1.1 | 225 | == 8. System Integrity == |
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1.3 | 226 | |
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1.1 | 227 | === 8.1 No Manipulation === |
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1.3 | 228 | |
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1.1 | 229 | Prohibited: |
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1.3 | 230 | |
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1.1 | 231 | * Multiple accounts |
| 232 | * Coordinated campaigns | ||
| 233 | * Source fabrication | ||
| 234 | * Evidence hiding | ||
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1.3 | 235 | |
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1.1 | 236 | === 8.2 Automation Disclosure === |
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1.3 | 237 | |
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1.1 | 238 | Mark all automated contributions: |
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1.3 | 239 | |
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1.1 | 240 | * Human-written |
| 241 | * AI-assisted | ||
| 242 | * AI-generated | ||
| 243 | * Fully automated (AKEL only) | ||
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1.3 | 244 | |
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1.1 | 245 | == 9. Enforcement == |
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1.3 | 246 | |
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1.1 | 247 | **Scope:** This section applies only to **FactHarbor contributors and users**, not to external entities being evaluated. |
| 248 | FactHarbor cannot enforce rules against: | ||
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1.3 | 249 | |
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1.1 | 250 | * Governments |
| 251 | * Corporations | ||
| 252 | * Media outlets | ||
| 253 | * External sources | ||
| 254 | For external entities, FactHarbor can only: | ||
| 255 | * Evaluate their track record | ||
| 256 | * Document their accuracy/inaccuracy | ||
| 257 | * Flag unreliability | ||
| 258 | * Warn users | ||
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1.3 | 259 | |
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1.1 | 260 | === 9.1 Progressive Discipline (FactHarbor Participants) === |
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1.3 | 261 | |
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1.1 | 262 | * Warning |
| 263 | * Temporary suspension | ||
| 264 | * Longer suspension | ||
| 265 | * Permanent ban | ||
| 266 | Exception: Severe violations may result in immediate ban. | ||
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1.3 | 267 | |
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1.1 | 268 | === 9.2 Appeals === |
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1.3 | 269 | |
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1.1 | 270 | Appeal with clear grounds and evidence to moderators. |
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1.3 | 271 | |
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1.1 | 272 | == 10. Updates == |
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1.3 | 273 | |
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1.1 | 274 | Rules evolve with platform. Major changes require notice and community input. |
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1.3 | 275 | |
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1.1 | 276 | == 11. Related Documents == |
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1.3 | 277 | |
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1.4 | 278 | * [[Requirements>>Archive.FactHarbor 2026\.01\.20.Specification.Requirements.WebHome]] |
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1.1 | 279 | * [[Privacy Policy>>FactHarbor.Organisation.How-We-Work-Together.Privacy-Policy]] |
| 280 | * [[Transparency Policy>>FactHarbor.Organisation.How-We-Work-Together.Transparency-Policy]] | ||
| 281 | * [[Terms of Service>>FactHarbor.Organisation.How-We-Work-Together.Terms-of-Service]] | ||
| 282 | **Version:** 0.9.33 | ||
| 283 | **Foundation:** Truth, Transparency, Independence |