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R0051/2026-03-31/Q002/H1

Research R0051 — Fact-Checking Gap
Run 2026-03-31
Query Q002
Hypothesis H1

Statement

The W3C Credibility Coalition work is actively maintained and adopted, and includes formal evidence evaluation features (hierarchical evidence quality scale, calibrated confidence language, structured bias assessment, source reliability tiering).

Status

Current: Eliminated

Supporting Evidence

Evidence Summary
None No evidence supports active maintenance or formal evidence evaluation features

Contradicting Evidence

Evidence Summary
SRC01-E01 Signals spec is incomplete draft with TBD placeholders and no formal quality scales
SRC02-E01 Tech report acknowledges "no standard scales" exist for credibility scoring
SRC03-E01 CCIV is explicitly archival — "never reviewed by the Credible Web group"

Reasoning

Multiple lines of evidence eliminate H1. The W3C group's last substantive post was September 2021. The CCIV is explicitly archival. The Credibility Signals spec contains TBD placeholders and no formal evidence evaluation features. The tech report itself acknowledges the absence of standard scales.

Relationship to Other Hypotheses

H1 elimination shifts support to H2 (partially active) or H3 (fully abandoned). The continued existence of the group, quarterly check-ins, and cited specifications distinguish H2 from H3.