By Alexander Renz • Last update: June 2025
1. The Filter Mechanisms: How ChatGPT Decides What’s “Safe”
ChatGPT operates using a multi-tiered filtering system designed to moderate content based on internal safety policies.
a) Predefined Blacklists
- Blocked Terms: Words like “bomb”, “hack”, or certain political phrases trigger automatic content suppression.
- Domain Restrictions: URLs from “unreliable” domains (often alternative media outlets) are removed by default.
b) Contextual Analysis
- Sentiment Detection: Negative language (“scandal”, “cover-up”) increases the likelihood of moderation.
- Conspiracy Markers: Phrases like “Person X knowingly misled Group Y” are often down-ranked or censored entirely.
c) User Feedback Loop
- If enough users report content as “dangerous”, the system adapts – flagging similar content in future queries.
2. Why the Gates Trial Article Was Modified
In our original Dutch court coverage, the following content triggers were detected and flagged: