How Tessère Open Witness Works

This page explains the lifecycle of information within Tessère Open Witness (TOW), from initial submission to potential public release.

1. Submissions

Individuals may submit photos, videos, audio recordings, or written descriptions through supported intake channels.

Submissions may be incomplete, unclear, or unverified. For safety reasons, submissions are private by default.

2. Standby

Most submissions initially enter a standby state. During standby:

• information is retained securely
• no public claim is made
• no event reconstruction record is asserted

The standby period exists to reduce harm, avoid premature conclusions, and allow time for corroboration.

3. Corroboration

When independent submissions, sources, or other signals align, TOW may correlate them as referring to the same observable occurrence.

Corroboration does not imply certainty. It indicates internal consistency between separate reported observations.

4. Event reconstruction

Only after sufficient corroboration does TOW create an event reconstruction record.

An event reconstruction record summarizes:

• what is reported to have occurred
• when it likely occurred (expressed as a time window)
• where it occurred (expressed as an approximate area)

5. Publication

Some event reconstruction records may be published in a public timeline.

Published records are:

• privacy-filtered
• non-attributive
• subject to revision as new information appears

Many reconstruction records remain unpublished where publication could reasonably cause harm, misinterpretation, or misuse.

6. Updates and revision

Event reconstruction records may be updated when additional corroborating information becomes available.

Earlier versions are retained and are not silently erased.