Changed on GOV.UK

Methodology · version 1

Evidence before interpretation.

This service captures structured content supplied by GOV.UK, extracts the words a visitor can read, and publishes a record only when those words change.

How a record is made

  1. We accept only canonical https://www.gov.uk/ content addresses.
  2. We fetch the page through GOV.UK’s public Content API.
  3. Titles, descriptions, headings, paragraphs, and list items are converted into stable text. Navigation and volatile timestamps are excluded.
  4. A SHA-256 fingerprint is calculated. If it matches the previous visible-content fingerprint, no change is published.
  5. When it differs, both immutable snapshots and their exact additions and removals are recorded.

What we deliberately do not do

We do not use AI to decide significance, summarise policy, or infer why an editor made a change. We do not treat an updated timestamp by itself as evidence that guidance changed.

Limitations

  • The record begins when a page is first tracked; it is not a complete history of earlier editions.
  • Attachments, transactional services, and content rendered outside the structured page body may not be captured.
  • A capture can be delayed by source availability or maintenance.
  • The live GOV.UK page is always authoritative. Seek qualified advice where a change may affect rights or obligations.

Independence and reuse

This service is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK government. Source material is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and linked back to the authoritative page.