Core Principles
Every decision we make—from algorithmic design to editorial oversight—is filtered through these five foundational commitments:
Truth & Accuracy
Information must be verifiable, properly sourced, and continuously updated. We prioritize primary sources and peer-reviewed material.
Transparency
Our methodologies, funding sources, and editorial processes are publicly documented. You always know where information comes from.
Global Inclusivity
Knowledge must represent diverse perspectives, languages, and cultural contexts. We actively counter systemic biases in historical and scientific records.
Privacy & Sovereignty
User data and contributor identities are protected by design. We never sell data, and we comply with GDPR, CCPA, and local privacy laws.
Open Scholarship
Knowledge should be accessible. We maintain free read-access globally and offer CC-BY licensing for community-contributed entries.
AI & Content Governance
Artificial intelligence plays a supporting role at Aevum Encyclopedia, enhancing discovery and synthesis without replacing human judgment. Our AI policies are strictly bounded by the following standards:
- Human-in-the-Loop Verification: No AI-generated content is published without review by at least two domain-verified contributors.
- Bias Auditing: All recommendation and summarization models undergo quarterly fairness audits by our independent ethics board.
- Provenance Tracking: Every AI-assisted edit is cryptographically signed and logged. Contributors can view the full edit history and AI involvement percentage.
- Prohibited Uses: AI is never used to generate citations, fabricate historical records, or manipulate sentiment in academic entries.
Our Commitment: AI is a tool for accessibility and discovery, not a substitute for scholarly rigor. If a claim cannot be traced to a human-verified source, it is not published.
Privacy & Data Ethics
We treat personal information as a trust, not an asset. Our data practices are designed to minimize collection and maximize user control:
- Zero Ad-Tracking: Aevum is sustained by institutional partnerships, grants, and optional contributor memberships. We do not use behavioral advertising.
- Minimal Retention: Search queries and reading history are anonymized after 30 days. Account data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
- Contributor Anonymity: Researchers and whistleblowers may publish under verified pseudonyms. Identity verification is handled by third-party academic institutions.
- Right to Erasure: Users may request complete account deletion and data export at any time via dashboard settings or direct email.
Community & Contributor Standards
Aevum Encyclopedia thrives on collaborative scholarship. To maintain a respectful and productive environment, all contributors must adhere to:
- Neutrality & Balance: Entries must present multiple perspectives where scholarly debate exists, without endorsing fringe or debunked theories.
- Citation Integrity: Fabricated, paywalled-only, or non-reproducible sources result in immediate content flags and contributor review.
- Constructive Discourse: Harassment, doxxing, political lobbying, and vandalism are grounds for permanent restriction. Appeals are handled transparently.
- Open Correction Process: Any user can flag inaccuracies. All reported entries undergo mandatory review within 72 hours by verified editors.
We believe ethical knowledge sharing requires accountability. Our moderation logs are published quarterly, and enforcement decisions can be appealed to the Editorial Oversight Council.
Report an Ethics Concern
If you've encountered misinformation, privacy violations, or community conduct that violates this framework, please submit a report below. All submissions are reviewed confidentially within 5 business days.
Alternatively, email our ethics team directly at ethics@aevumencyclopedia.org