i havent heard of them but here is a definition The Chatham House Rule is a principle that governs the confidentiality of the source of information received at a meeting. Since its refinement in 2002, the rule states:[1]
When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
The rule allows people to speak as individuals and to express views that may not be those of their organisations, and therefore, encourages free discussion. Speakers are free to voice their own opinions, without concern for their personal reputation or their official duties and affiliations. The Chatham House Rule resolves a boundary problem faced by many communities of practice, in that it permits acknowledgment of the community or conversation, while protecting the freedom of interaction that is necessary for the community to carry out its conversations.
The rule originated in June 1927 at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, which now is known as Chatham House. The aim of the rule is guaranteeing anonymity to those speaking within its walls so that better international relations may be achieved. The rule now is used internationally as an aid to free discussion. The original rule was refined in October 1992 and again, in 2002.[clarification needed]
Meetings, or parts of meetings, either may be held on the record, or, under the Chatham House Rule. In the latter case, all participants are understood to have agreed that it would be conducive to free discussion that they should be subject to the rule for the relevant part of the meeting. The success of the rule may depend upon it being considered morally binding, particularly in circumstances where a failure to comply with the rule may not result in sanction. Sometimes the rule is half-jokingly summarised as, "You may be quoted, but you cannot be fired."
