How to Contribute

This project documents authoritarian patterns in real-time. We need contributors to:

  • Submit new entries
  • Update existing entries with new information
  • Fix errors and improve documentation
  • Translate content
  • Help with site development

Before You Contribute

Requirements

  • Everything must be sourced - no exceptions
  • Minimum 3 reliable sources per entry
  • Archive.org or equivalent links for all sources (in case they disappear)
  • Neutral, factual language - document, don’t editorialize
  • Follow existing entry format

Good sources

  • News organizations with editorial standards
  • Government documents
  • Academic research
  • Human rights organizations
  • Direct statements from officials
  • Legal documents and court filings

Bad sources

  • Anonymous blogs
  • Unsourced claims
  • Social media posts (unless from verified officials)
  • Opinion pieces without factual basis
  • Conspiracy theory sites

Entry Format

Create a new markdown file in the appropriate category folder:

---
title: "Policy/Action Name"
status: "proposed/active/repealed/ongoing"
locations: ["Country", "Region"]
date_start: "YYYY-MM-DD"
date_end: null  # or date if ended
justifications: ["how it was sold to public"]
patterns: ["authoritarian patterns it follows"]
related: ["other-entry-slug", "another-entry"]
categories: ["surveillance", "atrocities", "targeting-marginalized", etc]
weight: 10  # 1-100, higher = more prominent (ongoing atrocities = 100)
sources:
  - url: "https://primary-source.com/article"
    title: "Article Title"
    date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
  - url: "https://secondary-source.org/report"
    title: "Report Title"
    date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
  - url: "https://archive.org/..."
    title: "Archived version of source"
    date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
---

## The Pitch

How was this sold to the public? What justifications were used?

- Quote official statements
- Document the framing
- Show the "reasonable" facade

## The Reality

What does it actually do? What's actually happening?

- Document the facts
- Show the scope
- Provide concrete examples
- Use numbers and data
- Show the human impact

## The Pattern

Which historical atrocities does this mirror?

- Draw clear parallels
- Show the playbook being used
- Connect to past examples
- Explain why this matters

## What Actually [Protects/Helps/Solves] [The Problem]

If the stated goal was legitimate, what would actually work?

- Show the contrast between stated goals and actual effects
- Document what experts say would actually help
- Expose that this was never about solving the problem

## What You Can Do

Concrete actions people can take:

- Organizations to support
- Representatives to contact
- Protests and demonstrations
- Direct action possibilities
- Mutual aid and support networks

---

**Last updated**: YYYY-MM-DD
**Status**: [if ongoing, note when it was last verified]

Categories

  • surveillance: Privacy violations, encryption backdoors, mass monitoring
  • atrocities: Genocides, mass violence, ethnic cleansing (ongoing and historical)
  • targeting-marginalized: Laws/policies targeting specific groups
  • corporate: Corporate harm, environmental destruction, worker exploitation
  • thought-control: Speech restrictions, book bans, propaganda, education control
  • emergency-powers: “Temporary” powers that became permanent

Writing Guidelines

Do

  • Use clear, direct language
  • Document facts with sources
  • Show the pattern without editorializing
  • Provide context
  • Make it accessible to general readers
  • Include action items

Don’t

  • Editorialize or inject opinion
  • Make unsourced claims
  • Use inflammatory language (the facts are inflammatory enough)
  • Assume readers know the context
  • Forget the human impact
  • Leave out what people can do about it

Tone

  • Factual but not dry
  • Direct but not sensational
  • Angry is fine if it’s directed at the right targets
  • Remember: we’re documenting atrocities, not writing academic papers

LLM Usage

While we do allow usage of LLMs, the final results must pass human review.

It has been shown that LLMs, if given the tools (web search), can act as a good starting point for this kind of content. However, human-written content is preferable.

Submission Process

Via GitHub (Preferred)

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Create a new branch: git checkout -b entry/policy-name
  3. Add your entry in the appropriate category folder
  4. Commit: git commit -m "Add entry: Policy Name"
  5. Push: git push origin entry/policy-name
  6. Open a Pull Request with:
    • Clear title
    • Description of what you’re adding
    • Why it belongs in the museum
    • Confirmation that you’ve verified all sources

Via Email

If you’re not comfortable with Git:

  • Email your entry to: [email protected]
  • Include all sources with archive links
  • Specify which category it belongs in
  • We’ll review and add it with credit

Review Process

All submissions are reviewed for:

  • Accuracy: Are the facts correct and sourced?
  • Relevance: Does it fit the museum’s scope?
  • Format: Does it follow the template?
  • Quality: Is it well-written and clear?
  • Sources: Are sources reliable and archived?

We may:

  • Request additional sources
  • Suggest edits for clarity
  • Ask for more context
  • Recommend different categorization

This isn’t censorship - it’s quality control. We’re building a documentary record.

Updating Existing Entries

Policies evolve. Atrocities continue. Entries need updates.

To update an entry:

  1. Find the file in content/[category]/
  2. Add new information with sources
  3. Update the “Last updated” date
  4. If status changed (proposed→active), update frontmatter
  5. Submit PR with clear description of changes

Translations

Help make this accessible worldwide:

  1. Create content/[language-code]/ folder
  2. Translate entries maintaining the same structure
  3. Keep sources in original language + add local sources if available
  4. Submit PR

Priority languages: Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese

Development

Help improve the site itself:

  • Theme development
  • Search functionality
  • Mobile optimization
  • Accessibility improvements
  • Data visualization
  • API development

See GitHub issues for current needs.

What Gets Rejected

We will reject entries that:

  • Lack proper sources
  • Are primarily opinion/editorial
  • Don’t follow authoritarian patterns
  • Are trivial complaints (not everything bad is fascism)
  • Contain hate speech or bigotry
  • Are bad-faith submissions trying to muddy the waters

Recognition

All contributors are credited:

  • In the git history (permanent record)
  • In site contributors page (new contributors will be added once their submission is accepted)

You can contribute anonymously if needed (for safety reasons).

Code of Conduct

  • Be honest: Source everything, admit when you’re not sure
  • Be respectful: Of victims, of truth, of contributors
  • Be focused: Stay on mission - documenting authoritarian patterns
  • Be brave: This work matters, document hard truths

Don’t be:

  • A Nazi (obviously)
  • A concern troll
  • A bad-faith actor
  • Someone who defends atrocities

Questions?

  • Check existing entries for examples
  • Ask in GitHub Discussions
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Read the About page

Final Note

This project documents ongoing atrocities and authoritarian policies. If you’re contributing about something happening right now - especially if you’re personally affected - please take care of yourself.

Document what you can. Share what you know. But your safety and wellbeing come first.

We’re building a record so future generations understand. And so current generations can resist.

Thank you for contributing.