FACT-CHECKING POLICY
EDITORIAL STANDARDS & VERIFICATION PROTOCOLS
LAST UPDATED: MARCH 28, 2026
OSINT HQ is committed to the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and accountability in conflict journalism. In an information environment where misinformation, propaganda, and unverified claims spread rapidly, our editorial team applies rigorous verification protocols to every report we publish. This policy outlines the methods and principles that govern our fact-checking process.
1. PRIMARY SOURCING
OSINT HQ does not aggregate or repackage reporting from other news outlets. We prioritize original, primary-source intelligence to build our reports from the ground up.
Official statements, press conferences, and communiqués issued by governments, defense ministries, and military command structures involved in active conflicts.
First-hand accounts and operational updates from military commanders, defense officials, and authorized spokespersons, sourced directly or through verified official channels.
Verified satellite imagery, aerial reconnaissance photography, and geospatial data used to confirm strikes, troop movements, infrastructure damage, and territorial changes.
Combat footage, frontline video, and photographic evidence sourced from conflict zones, authenticated through metadata analysis, geolocation, and cross-referencing before publication.
Declassified reports, sanctions filings, UN resolutions, arms transfer registries, and other publicly available institutional records that provide verifiable context to our reporting.
2. THE TWO-SOURCE RULE
OSINT HQ adheres to the journalistic standard of multi-source confirmation. No tactical development, territorial change, equipment loss, or casualty figure is reported as established fact unless it has been independently verified by at least two separate, credible sources.
Verified by two or more independent sources. Published as established fact.
One credible source available. Clearly attributed and labeled as reported, not confirmed.
Single-source claim that cannot yet be independently verified. Clearly flagged for readers.
3. OSINT VERIFICATION PROTOCOLS
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is a core pillar of our verification process. Our team employs systematic analytical techniques to authenticate content and validate claims before publication.
Video footage and photographs are geolocated by cross-referencing visible landmarks, terrain features, road networks, and building structures against known satellite imagery and mapping databases to confirm the exact location of reported events.
Reported strike times and operational timelines are cross-referenced against meteorological data, solar positioning, shadow analysis, and known weather patterns to verify the date and time of recorded events.
Image and video files are examined for EXIF data, compression artifacts, and signs of digital manipulation. Files that show evidence of tampering, re-encoding from unrelated events, or artificial alteration are flagged and excluded from publication.
Military hardware, vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions visible in footage are identified and cross-referenced against known inventory databases, defense publications, and technical specifications to verify claims about equipment type and origin.
Claims originating from social media platforms are subjected to source credibility audits, including account history analysis, network mapping, and reverse-image searches to identify recycled or misattributed content.
Before-and-after satellite imagery is used to independently confirm reported strikes, facility damage, troop staging areas, and infrastructure changes, providing visual evidence that does not rely on any party's claims.
4. INFORMATION CLASSIFICATION
To maintain transparency with our readers, OSINT HQ applies clear classification labels to all reporting based on the level of verification achieved at the time of publication.
5. CORRECTIONS & RETRACTIONS POLICY
Accuracy is the foundation of our credibility. When we make a mistake, we own it, correct it, and document it transparently. OSINT HQ maintains the following correction standards.
If we publish incorrect information, a Correction notice will be issued at the top of the affected article within 24 hours of the error being identified. The original text will be preserved with strikethrough formatting so readers can see exactly what was changed.
In fast-moving situations where initial reports are superseded by new information, articles will carry a clearly dated Update notice at the top indicating what has changed and when the update was made.
In rare cases where a report is found to be substantially incorrect or based on fabricated sources, the article will be retracted in full. A Retraction notice will replace the original content, explaining the reason for removal.
We encourage our readers to report factual errors, misidentifications, or questionable claims. All reader-submitted corrections are reviewed by our editorial team and acted upon promptly. Reports can be submitted through our Contact Page.
6. PROPAGANDA & MISINFORMATION SAFEGUARDS
Active conflict zones are saturated with propaganda, disinformation campaigns, and deliberately misleading content from all sides. OSINT HQ maintains strict safeguards against publishing manipulated or weaponized information.
7. EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
OSINT HQ is not affiliated with, funded by, or connected to any government, military organization, intelligence agency, defense contractor, or political group. Our editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by any external entity. We do not accept payment or incentives from any party involved in any conflict we cover. Our reporting is accountable only to the facts and to our readers.
8. CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
Impartiality is non-negotiable. OSINT HQ maintains strict conflict of interest safeguards to ensure that no financial, political, personal, or ideological interest compromises the integrity of our reporting.
No member of our editorial team holds financial interests, sponsorship agreements, or consulting arrangements with any government, military organization, defense contractor, or arms manufacturer connected to the conflicts we cover.
Our team does not represent, advocate for, or maintain membership in any political party, faction, lobby group, or activist organization. Editorial decisions are made on the basis of evidence alone.
Any contributor who identifies a potential conflict of interest in relation to a story they are working on is required to disclose it to the editorial team immediately. That contributor will be reassigned and will have no editorial influence over the published report.
Advertising and editorial operations are kept entirely separate. Advertisers, sponsors, and affiliate partners have zero influence over our news coverage, analysis, or editorial decisions. Revenue never dictates reporting.
9. SOURCE PROTECTION & ANONYMITY
Conflict journalism depends on sources who often operate under significant personal risk. OSINT HQ takes the protection of its sources seriously and maintains strict protocols to safeguard the identity and safety of individuals who provide information.
We never reveal the identity of a confidential source without their explicit written consent. Source identities are known only to the senior editorial team and are never stored in publicly accessible systems.
Anonymous sources are used only when the information they provide is of significant public interest and cannot be obtained through any other means. When anonymous sourcing is used, we explain to our readers why the source has been granted anonymity and describe their position in general terms.
Our editorial team uses encrypted communication channels when handling sensitive information from sources in active conflict zones. We do not discuss source identities over unsecured platforms.
OSINT HQ does not pay sources for information, nor do we coerce, pressure, or incentivize individuals to provide intelligence. All information is provided voluntarily.
10. GRAPHIC CONTENT REVIEW PROCESS
War produces graphic imagery. OSINT HQ recognizes the responsibility that comes with publishing content from active conflict zones and applies a structured editorial review process before any graphic material is approved for publication.
Before publishing any graphic content, our editorial team asks: Does this image or footage serve a legitimate journalistic purpose? Content is only approved if it provides essential evidence, context, or documentation that cannot be conveyed through description alone.
All graphic content must be reviewed and approved by at least two senior members of the editorial team before publication. No single editor can unilaterally approve graphic material.
All articles and reports containing graphic imagery carry a clearly visible Graphic Content Warning before the material appears. Readers are given the opportunity to proceed or navigate away before encountering sensitive visuals.
We do not publish content that exploits, dehumanizes, or sensationalizes the suffering of individuals. The dignity of victims, both civilian and military, is considered at every stage of the editorial process. Faces of identifiable deceased individuals are obscured unless publication serves a documented public interest.
OSINT HQ does not publish graphic material for shock value, engagement metrics, or audience growth. If an image or video does not add verifiable journalistic value to the report, it is excluded regardless of its visual impact.
To report a factual error or submit a correction request, please visit our
CONTACT PAGE