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FactLog Rules

Guidelines for Documentarians and Contributors

Welcome to FactLog. These guidelines establish the standards for our documentation platform, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and the protection of our community.

Our Documentation Philosophy

FactLog exists to create permanent records of verified events. Every contributor is a historian in real-time. We expect:

  • Meticulous attention to factual accuracy
  • Precise dating and source attribution
  • Commitment to primary source documentation
  • Willingness to update records when new information emerges
  • Clear distinction between documented facts and analysis

Documentation Standards

FactLog contributors follow archival principles adapted for digital journalism:

  • Original documentation over secondary reporting
  • Multiple source verification for significant claims
  • Preservation of context and chronology
  • Attribution that allows reader verification
  • Corrections that maintain historical integrity

We recommend studying archival best practices and the principles of evidentiary documentation.

Content Specifications

What We Document:

  • ✅ Original witness accounts with verifiable details
  • ✅ Document analysis and primary source reporting
  • ✅ Chronological event tracking and pattern analysis
  • ✅ Investigative findings with documented evidence
  • ✅ Expert analysis with disclosed methodology

To maintain archival integrity and prevent spam:

  • Maximum 3 active links per entry (excluding source citations)
  • All links must serve documentation purposes
  • No promotional or affiliate links
Links should support verification, not promotion

Media Documentation:

Video Content:

  • ❌ Do not upload video files directly to our platform
  • Video hosting consumes resources our volunteer platform cannot sustain
  • ✅ Embed videos from:
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    • Internet Archive
    • Other established platforms
  • All video content must be directly relevant to documentation

Images and Documents:

  • ✅ Upload images you have rights to use
  • Include proper attribution and dating
  • Optimize file sizes (under 5MB preferred)
  • Document source and chain of custody when relevant

Prohibited Content

  • ❌ Fabricated or altered documentation
  • ❌ Plagiarism or uncredited reproduction
  • ❌ Deliberately misleading dates or attribution
  • ❌ Harassment or threatening material
  • ❌ Spam disguised as documentation
  • ❌ Malicious links or code
  • ❌ Private information published without consent

Account Policies

We reserve the right to:

  • Restrict accounts that violate documentation standards
  • Remove entries that fail verification
  • Take immediate action for serious violations

Grounds for account action:

  • Repeated guideline violations
  • Publishing fabricated documentation
  • Harassment of community members
  • Manipulation of timestamps or sources
  • Excessive resource consumption

We understand documentation may involve controversial subjects. Enforcement focuses on accuracy and methodology, not the subject matter of your documentation.

Appeals:

If you believe your account was restricted in error, contact us via our contact page. We review appeals thoroughly.

Community Conduct

Collaboration Standards:

  • Treat fellow documentarians with professional respect
  • Critique methodology, not individuals
  • Welcome corrections to your own work
  • Protect source confidentiality absolutely

Error Protocol:

  • Correct errors promptly upon discovery
  • Note corrections transparently in the record
  • Update documentation as events develop

Contributor Rights

You retain:

  • Full copyright to your original work
  • Right to publish elsewhere
  • Control over your profile
  • Ability to update your contributions

We provide:

  • Permanent archival infrastructure
  • Technical hosting and security
  • Privacy protection
  • Community of fellow documentarians

Infrastructure Considerations

As a volunteer-operated archive, we ask contributors to:

  • Use embedded content rather than large uploads
  • Optimize images before uploading
  • Respect server resource limitations
  • Understand our capacity constraints

Your cooperation ensures FactLog remains accessible for all documentarians.

Questions About These Guidelines?

Guidelines evolve as our archive grows. Current version always available here.

For clarification, visit our contact page.

Last Updated: December 2025