Corrections & Retractions Policy

Accuracy is the foundation of everything we publish. They Knew operates as a fact-checking and historical documentation platform, and our credibility depends on getting the facts right. When we get something wrong, we fix it — openly, promptly, and without equivocation.

This policy outlines how we handle corrections, updates, and retractions across all published claims and editorial content on theyknew.io.

Reporting an Error

Anyone can report a factual error, misleading framing, or outdated information on any published claim. Reports can be submitted through:

• Email: corrections@theyknew.io
• On-page reporting: Use the "Report Issue" link available on every claim page
• Discord: Post in the #corrections channel on our community server

When reporting an error, include the specific claim URL, a description of the inaccuracy, and any supporting evidence or sources that demonstrate the correct information.

How Corrections Are Reviewed

Every correction request is reviewed by the editorial team through a structured process:

1. Acknowledgment: We confirm receipt of the report within 48 hours.
2. Source verification: The editorial team independently verifies the reported error against primary sources, official records, and peer-reviewed material.
3. Editorial review: If the error is confirmed, a senior editor determines whether the issue requires a correction (factual fix), an update (new information), or a full retraction (fundamental inaccuracy).
4. Publication: The corrected content is published with a clear correction notice.

How Corrections Are Displayed

Transparency is non-negotiable. When a correction is made to a published claim, the following changes are applied:

• A visible correction notice is added to the top of the claim page, stating what was changed and why.
• The original text is preserved in a revision history so readers can see exactly what was modified.
• The claim's dateModified metadata is updated to reflect the correction date.
• If the correction changes the verification status (e.g., from Verified to Debunked), the status badge and ClaimReview structured data are updated accordingly.

Retractions

In rare cases where a claim is found to be fundamentally inaccurate or based on fabricated evidence, we issue a full retraction. Retracted claims are not deleted — they remain accessible with a prominent retraction notice explaining why the content was withdrawn. We believe removing content entirely undermines accountability; the retraction itself is part of the public record.

Correction Timeline

• Minor factual corrections (dates, names, source attributions): published within 72 hours of confirmation.
• Status changes (verification status updates based on new evidence): published within 7 days after full editorial review.
• Full retractions: published within 14 days, following thorough re-examination of all supporting evidence.

Corrections Log

We maintain a public log of all corrections and retractions issued on theyknew.io. This log is updated each time a published claim is materially changed.