Correction Policy
WikiWalls corrects errors transparently. Corrections are dated, signed by the editor, and placed at the top of the affected piece. Material corrections are surfaced on the homepage for 48 hours. Retractions happen when a piece’s core claim is invalidated; the URL stays live with the retraction notice replacing the original copy.
- Correction: a factual error in an otherwise-sound piece. Fixed in place with a dated correction note at the top
- Update: new information arrives that materially changes the conclusion. Added as a labeled update block; original copy preserved
- Retraction: the core claim is invalidated. The URL stays live with a retraction notice; original copy archived
- Removal: only for legal, safety, or extreme reputational reasons. Logged on this page
The four kinds of changes we make
| Type | When it applies | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Correction | A specific factual error in an otherwise sound piece. Wrong number, wrong attribution, wrong product version, wrong company name | Fix in place. Dated, editor-signed correction block at the top: “Correction: this piece originally stated [X]. The accurate figure is [Y]. Updated [date], signed by [editor name].” |
| Update | New information arrives that materially changes the conclusion. A product gets a new release, a price changes, a vendor pulls a feature | Add a labeled update block at the top with the new information. Original copy preserved below the update block. Date the update |
| Retraction | The core claim of the piece is invalidated. A comparison verdict was wrong because we mis-tested. A pattern we named has been falsified | Replace body content with a retraction notice. URL stays live. Notice names what was retracted, why, and who signed off |
| Removal | Legal demand, safety reason (e.g., a vulnerability disclosure that turned out to be a live exploit), or extreme reputational concern (defamation found at fact-check) | Set status to draft or trash. Removal logged on this page with date and reason category. We do not silently disappear content |
Correction workflow
From reader report to public correction
- Reader or staff identifies a potential error. Reports via contact with the piece URL and the specific claim that may be wrong
- Editor reviews within 48 hours. Pulls the original source, the testbed log, the named reviewer’s notes
- If the claim is correct as written: reply to the reporter with sources cited. No change to the piece
- If the claim is wrong: editor and the original named reviewer (where available) draft the correction. Second-editor verifies the new copy
- Correction block goes live at the top of the piece with the date, the original text, the corrected text, and the editor’s signature
- If material, the correction is surfaced on the homepage for 48 hours. “Material” means: the correction changes the verdict, the recommendation, or a primary number
- Affected internal links are reviewed. If a downstream piece referenced the corrected fact, the downstream piece is also updated
What we surface on the homepage
Material corrections are listed on the homepage for 48 hours under a “Recent corrections” surface. After 48 hours, the surface clears but the in-piece correction block remains permanently. Retractions stay surfaced on the homepage for 7 days.
Sponsor pressure on corrections
A sponsor asking us to remove a piece because they do not like the verdict is not a correction request. That is editorial pressure, and the answer is no.
If a sponsor disputes a verdict: they can write to contact with their data. If they bring evidence that our test was wrong (incorrect testbed, mis-applied criteria, factual error), the editor reviews under this policy. If they bring “we just disagree,” the piece stays.
Recent corrections
This section lists the last 12 months of corrections, with the affected piece, the correction text, the date, and the editor signature. Currently empty as the publication relaunches. Corrections will populate this surface as they happen.
To report a correction, write to contact. Include the piece URL and the specific claim. The faster the report, the faster the correction.
Last reviewed by WikiWalls editorial.