ETH-002
Hard constraint
layer: document
Evaluate express and implied claims
IF wording, visuals, omissions, sequence, or context could imply a material claim, THEN evaluate that implication as well as the literal sentence ELSE retain.
Why the rule exists
A literally true sentence can still create a deceptive overall impression.
Condition
The rule fires when this evaluates true. Paths marked below must be present in the fact base; the engine reports the rest rather than guessing them.
- document.persuasive_or_advertising eq true
Facts this rule reads
| Path | Source |
|---|---|
document.persuasive_or_advertising |
You supply it |
Then
- extract — target
document.claims - verify — target
document.claims
Else
- retain — target
current_text, No triggering condition is present.
LAKA
- Smallest sufficient intervention
- Yes
- Primary axes
Sources
-
Advertising and Marketing Basics — U.S. Federal Trade Commission
link
Advertising claims must be truthful, non-deceptive, fair, and appropriately substantiated. -
Advertising Substantiation Policy Statement — U.S. Federal Trade Commission
link
Objective claims require a reasonable evidentiary basis before dissemination.
The raw rule record
Verbatim from 18-ethics-and-claims-rules.json. Also available at /v1/rules/ETH-002.
{
"id": "ETH-002",
"name": "Evaluate express and implied claims",
"domain": "ethics",
"layer": "document",
"strength": "hard_constraint",
"human_logic": "IF wording, visuals, omissions, sequence, or context could imply a material claim, THEN evaluate that implication as well as the literal sentence ELSE retain.",
"when": {
"path": "document.persuasive_or_advertising",
"operator": "eq",
"value": true
},
"then": [
{
"action": "extract",
"target": "document.claims",
"types": [
"express",
"implied"
]
},
{
"action": "verify",
"target": "document.claims"
}
],
"else": [
{
"action": "retain",
"target": "current_text",
"reason": "No triggering condition is present."
}
],
"unless": [],
"because": "A literally true sentence can still create a deceptive overall impression.",
"diagnostics": [],
"examples": {},
"source_ids": [
"WEB-012",
"WEB-013"
],
"laka": {
"smallest_sufficient_intervention": true,
"primary_axes": [
"scope",
"depth",
"magnitude",
"reversibility"
]
}
}
Other ethics rules
- ETH-001 No known false statement IF a statement is known to be false, THEN correct or remove it ELSE continue to evidence review. Hard constraint
- ETH-003 Evidence exists before objective claim IF an objective material claim will be published, THEN verify a reasonable evidentiary basis existed before dissemination ELSE block the claim. Hard constraint
- ETH-004 Disclose material conditions IF price, outcome, eligibility, risk, timing, endorsement, or availability depends on a material condition, THEN disclose it clearly and near the claim ELSE retain. Hard constraint
- ETH-005 Do not fabricate authority or social proof IF a credential, citation, endorsement, review, testimonial, user count, or case is unverifiable or synthetic without disclosure, THEN remove or accurately label it ELSE retain. Hard constraint
- ETH-006 Do not exploit vulnerability IF the audience is distressed, grieving, cognitively impaired, financially desperate, a child, or otherwise vulnerable, THEN remove coercive pressure and raise clarity, evidence, consent, and review requirements ELSE retain. Hard constraint
- ETH-007 Permission is not pressure IF a reader can legally or practically decline, THEN do not describe refusal as impossible, shameful, disloyal, or dangerous without evidence ELSE state real consequences neutrally. Hard constraint
- ETH-008 Preserve uncertainty in summaries IF source material expresses uncertainty, disagreement, limitation, or conditionality, THEN preserve it in summary ELSE retain. Hard constraint
- ETH-009 Separate persuasion from information when needed IF sponsorship, sales intent, advocacy, or conflict of interest could change reader interpretation, THEN disclose it early and plainly ELSE retain. Context default