Editorial policy
How we decide what to publish, how we check it, and how we use AI tools.
What we publish
Every piece carries a label saying what kind of work it is, so that readers can tell our own findings from other people's.
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| KIFOV Investigation | Original work by KIFOV, with a stated scope, method, evidence and limits. |
| Research | A report or evidence review with a published method, versioned and dated. |
| News | A significant development, reported from attributed sources. |
| Analysis | Our interpretation of verified facts, marked as such. |
| Guide | Practical guidance, based on what specialist services advise, linked to them. |
| Explainer | A plain explanation of how a harm works and what is known about it. |
| Statement | KIFOV's position on a confirmed event. |
| Impact | A documented result of our work, with evidence and method. |
When we report on research by NCMEC, the Internet Watch Foundation, a university or anyone else, we name them and link to the original. We never present other people's findings as our own.
Sourcing and checking
- Every factual statement is linked to a source. Wherever possible that is the primary source: the organisation, the law, the dataset, the official page.
- Before publication, an editor checks each statement against its source. We list our sources at the end of every piece.
- We say what is known and what is not. Where something is reported but not confirmed, we say so.
- Dates of publication and of substantive updates are shown on every page. We do not change dates to make old work look new.
Safeguarding review
Pieces about sexual abuse, exploitation, sextortion, self-harm or violence go through a separate safeguarding review before publication. The review checks that nothing could identify a child, that nothing could help someone cause harm, that suicide and self-harm are covered in line with the World Health Organization's guidance for media, and that readers are shown where to get help. Practical guidance on sensitive subjects is based on what specialist services advise, and we link to them.
Authorship
Pieces are signed by the person who wrote them or by the KIFOV Editorial Team when they were produced and checked collectively. We do not invent authors, experts or quotes, and we do not use stock photos of people presented as real staff or beneficiaries.
Use of AI tools
We use AI tools for some tasks, such as structuring drafts, comparing documents and suggesting edits. We do not use them to generate facts, sources, quotes, statistics or stories. Every statement we publish is checked by a person against its source, and a person decides what is published. Where AI tools materially shaped a piece of research, the method section says so.
Images
We use our own diagrams and illustrations, or images we have the right to use, credited. We never publish images that could identify a child who has been harmed, and never use images of children in distress to attract attention.
Independence and fairness
No funder, platform or government reviews our work before publication. When we criticise an organisation, we contact it beforehand, give it reasonable time to respond, and publish the substance of its reply. We do not publish accusations against private individuals.
Corrections
See our corrections policy. To report an error, contact the editors.