SOP · FIELD OPERATIONS
Whistleblower & Source-Protection Protocol
ActiveField OperationsRev C
Purpose
To govern the protection of whistleblowers and the public release of an evidence package so that exposure can never be turned back on the organization. The procedure guarantees that a source's identity is shielded, that evidence is independently re-tested with an unbroken custody chain, and that both Legal Counsel and the Doctrine Board sign before any disclosure — releasing only a cleared exhibit set while the sealed master is retained.
Scope
All whistleblower intake and exposure or disclosure actions on evidence packages.
In scope:
- Whistleblower intake and identity protection
- Pre-release independent verification
- Dual sign-off authorization
- Cleared exhibit-set release
Out of scope:
- Collection and custody of underlying evidence, which follows SOP Evidence Chain-of-Custody & Handling
- Sampling protocols, which follow SOP Dark pattern/Dark-pattern Sampling Chain
Definitions
Whistleblower
A source disclosing wrongdoing whose identity is protected under this protocol.
Blame-Back Review
The check that no organization action could be credibly blamed for the wrongdoing on release.
Exhibit Set
The cleared subset of an evidence package approved for public release.
Sealed Master
The full original package, retained intact and never released; only the exhibit set goes out.
Responsibilities
THE RESET Legal Counsel (Owner)
Owns the protocol; protects source identity, confirms admissibility, and co-signs release.
Intake Officer
Receives the disclosure, shields the source's identity, and routes the evidence securely.
THE RESET Doctrine Board
Co-signs disclosure and approves any public-arm routing.
GOVERNOR
Verifies custody-chain continuity and flags any package missing a re-test or sign-off.
Procedure
Intake & Protection
- Receive the disclosure through a secure channel and immediately shield the source's identity.
- Strip identifying metadata from any material the source provides.
- Hold source identity on a need-to-know basis; never record it in the released exhibit set.
Verification
- Independently re-test the evidence at a second accredited lab.
- Confirm an unbroken custody chain on the underlying package.
- Run a blame-back review confirming no organization action could be blamed for the wrongdoing.
Authorized Release
- Release only on dual Legal Counsel and Doctrine Board sign-off.
- Release only the cleared exhibit set; retain the sealed master intact and never disclosed.
- Route public disclosure through the approved channel; log the release decision.
PPE & Controls
No field PPE; secure-facility procedureEncrypted intake terminalAnonymized communications channelSecure document destruction for source-identifying drafts
Records Generated
- Whistleblower intake record with identity held separately (retained to case close + 7 years)
- Independent re-test results
- Blame-back review record
- Dual sign-off and release-decision log
References
- SOP: Evidence Chain-of-Custody & Handling
- SOP: Dark pattern/Dark-pattern Sampling Chain
- SOP: Covert Instrumentation & Documentation
- THE RESET Source Protection Charter
Revision History
| Rev | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2089-09-12 | Initial issue; source protection and dual sign-off established. |
| B | 2090-06-30 | Added independent re-test and blame-back review. |
| C | 2091-02-26 | Sealed-master retention and GOVERNOR custody verification formalized. |