Your household Source Ark
- Identify essential documents: identity, housing, insurance, vital contacts, benefits notices and important medical information.
- Keep paper copies in a safe location and encrypted digital copies when appropriate.
- Export rather than only screenshot important records. Save originals and note the source and date.
- Keep a backup separate from your main device, and periodically test that you can open it.
- Use unique passwords and multifactor authentication when available. Have a recovery plan.
- Keep a written process for changing accounts, providers or platforms if one fails.
Preserving community knowledge
FFTAC's proposed Source Ark combines original files, publication dates, correction logs, accessible versions, backup custodians and tested restoration procedures. “Preserve the Source” means preserving evidence—not declaring that a watermark or provenance label proves a claim is true.
Protect personal information
Never upload sensitive documents to public volunteer forms. Keep health, legal, whistleblower and identity data under separate safeguards; only collect data when there is a clear operational need.