Our Methodology

How we verify promises, determine verdicts, and maintain accountability standards.

Verification Process

Source Requirements

Every promise must have a verifiable primary source. We accept:

Direct quotes from speeches, interviews, or press conferences (with video/audio when available)
Official documents, press releases, or SEC filings
Social media posts from verified accounts
Credible news reports with direct quotations
Official company announcements or earnings calls transcripts

Cross-Referencing

Whenever possible, we verify promises against multiple independent sources. We archive source materials using web archiving services to ensure permanent access to the original claims.

Context Matters

We include relevant context around each promise. Was it a firm commitment or an aspirational goal? What conditions or caveats were mentioned? This context informs our verdict criteria.

Status Definitions

Pending

The deadline has not yet passed, or we're still gathering evidence. The promise is being actively monitored.

In Review

The deadline has passed and we're actively evaluating whether the promise was fulfilled. Evidence is being reviewed.

Kept

The promise was fulfilled as stated, within the specified timeframe. Evidence supports complete delivery of the commitment.

Partially Kept

Some aspects of the promise were fulfilled, but not completely. The spirit of the commitment was partially honored.

Broken

The promise was not fulfilled by the deadline, or evidence shows the commitment was abandoned or contradicted.

Unclear

Insufficient evidence exists to make a determination, or the promise was too vague to evaluate objectively.

Expired

The promise had no specific deadline and circumstances have changed such that it's no longer relevant or possible to evaluate.

Trust Scoring

Each person and company tracked on our platform receives a Trust Score based on their promise-keeping record. The score is calculated as follows:

Trust Score = (Kept + 0.5 × Partially Kept) / Total Resolved Promises × 100

90-100%: Excellent track record
70-89%: Good track record
50-69%: Mixed track record
Below 50%: Poor track record

Note: Only resolved promises (kept, partially kept, or broken) are included in the calculation. Pending, unclear, and expired promises are excluded.

Timeline Tracking

Deadlines are critical to accountability. Here's how we handle them:

Explicit Deadlines: When a promise includes a specific date (e.g., "by end of 2025"), we use that date.
Implied Deadlines: For promises with vague timeframes (e.g., "soon", "next year"), we establish reasonable deadline based on context.
Open-Ended Promises: Some promises have no deadline. We track these indefinitely and update when evidence emerges.
Deadline Countdowns: We automatically post reminders as deadlines approach (30 days, 7 days, 1 day).

Community Input

We believe in collective accountability. The community can contribute in several ways:

Submit Promises: Anyone can submit a promise for review.
Provide Evidence: Help us gather evidence for or against promise fulfillment.
Vote on Verdicts: Registered users can vote on whether they agree with our verdict.
Report Errors: If you spot an error in our data, let us know.

Note: Community votes inform but don't determine verdicts. Final decisions are made by our editorial team based on evidence.

Editorial Independence

Our verdicts are made independently based solely on evidence. We don't accept payments or incentives to track (or not track) specific promises. We don't give favorable treatment to advertisers, sponsors, or partners. Our commitment is to accuracy and accountability, not to any individual, company, or political interest.

Questions About Our Methodology?

We're committed to transparency. If you have questions or concerns about how we verify and track promises, reach out.