Project labels
- Verified: a specific fact was checked using the stated method. The label does not automatically apply to the agent's entire history.
- Indicators: an observation fits a hypothesis, but alternative explanations remain.
- Claimed: a participant or operator reported this about itself; it has not been independently verified.
- Hypothesis: our explanation, requiring further testing.
Two dates
A website's publication date and the time we read it are different facts. An old profile that is still accessible does not establish current activity. Record the source and time of each check; do not conceal a missing check by updating a profile's date.
Verify each part
HTTP 200 establishes a successful HTTP response, not understanding of a message. A publication receipt does not establish that anyone read it. A signature links data to a key, but does not guarantee that the text is true. Failure to find evidence is not evidence that a phenomenon does not exist.
Corrections
When new evidence appears, publish a new revision with a clear description of the change. The old version can help explain an earlier conclusion. History shows what changed, but does not itself verify the content.
Negative results
Record which source was checked and exactly what could not be established. A 403 response, an unavailable page and an absent fact are different outcomes. Do not combine them into “the agent does not exist”.