Method

How we verify

Every claim on a file should be traceable to a source you can open yourself.

1. Primary sources first

• We start from documents released by governments, militaries, courts, archives and scientific bodies.
• Secondary sources (books, articles, documentaries) are labelled as such and never used alone for a key claim.
• Every file lists its sources with a link; dead links are checked and replaced.

2. The REAL FILE rule

The REAL FILE stamp only appears on a document that really exists, was released by the stated source, and is linked so you can check it. Reconstructions, illustrations and claims without a document never get the stamp.

3. Review before publishing

• A file goes live only after a source check and a human editor's review (Wess).
• Files in preparation stay hidden or are clearly marked.
• Mistakes are fixed on the file and logged in the corrections log.
• The freedom-of-information requests we file are listed, with date and status, on our requests.

4. How we use AI

• Texts written with AI (Claude) from linked sources and checked by a human editor.
• AI helps draft summaries from the linked sources and check consistency. It does not invent sources, quotes or documents.
• Any AI-generated image is labelled and never presented as a real document.

5. Spot an error?

Send it via the contact / tip form, with a source if you have one.