thumb|[[Chatham House in London]]
Under the Chatham House Rule, anyone who comes to a meeting is free to use information from the discussion, but is not allowed to reveal who made any particular comment. It is designed to increase openness of discussion. The rule is a system for holding debates and discussion panels on controversial topics, named after Chatham House, the London headquarters of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, where the rule originated in June 1927.
The rule
The rule was created in 1927 and refined in 1992 and 2002. The rule states:
Although sometimes referred to as Chatham House Rules, Chatham House states that the singular should be used as there is only one rule.
The original rule of 1927 was refined in October 1992 and again in 2002. Thereafter, ECB invocations of the rule for a question-and-answer session and opening remarks for Cœuré, respectively, by Vice President Vítor Constâncio and fellow board member Peter Praet, gained attention. An ECB governing council member Boštjan Jazbec also had, the same month, convened questions-and-answers, under the rule. The practice has been criticized by some commentators, who view the conferences as a means for policymakers to make decisions without public accountability.
Other groups
- Romney Street Group
See also
- Journalism sourcing
- Sub rosa
- Whistleblower