{
  "schema_version": "citation-answer/v1",
  "answer_key": "watchlist",
  "artifact_slug": "watchlist",
  "query": "what is a watchlist",
  "citation_slots": 2,
  "canonical_path": "/glossary/watchlist",
  "title": "What is a watchlist?",
  "description": "Why screening must name the authority, list, date, and restriction.",
  "answer_capsule": "A watchlist is a source-specific list of people, organizations, vessels, or other records that an authority publishes for a defined screening purpose. There is no single universal government watchlist. A useful result must preserve the source agency, list name, date, identifiers, and restriction; a similar name alone is not an identity match.",
  "scope": "The Consolidated Screening List illustrates a multi-list search surface while preserving the underlying source list. Other sectors and jurisdictions publish separate lists.",
  "methodology_version": "citation-answer/v1",
  "reproducibility_note": "Re-derive this answer from the cited government file; no Fonteum account is required.",
  "limitations": [
    "No name-only result is presented as a conclusive identity match."
  ],
  "related_links": [
    {
      "label": "Sanctions screening",
      "href": "/glossary/sanctions-screening"
    }
  ],
  "data_as_of": "2026-07-20",
  "source_artifacts": [
    {
      "source_key": "ita-csl",
      "kind": "upstream",
      "file_name": "Consolidated Screening List",
      "file_url": "https://www.trade.gov/consolidated-screening-list",
      "publisher": "U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration",
      "published_date": null,
      "retrieved_date": null,
      "data_as_of": "2026-07-20",
      "sha256": null
    }
  ],
  "published_date": "2026-07-20",
  "modified_date": "2026-07-20",
  "sources": [
    {
      "source_key": "ita-csl",
      "name": "Consolidated Screening List",
      "publisher": "U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration",
      "official_url": "https://www.trade.gov/consolidated-screening-list",
      "source_date_kind": "accessed",
      "source_date": "2026-07-20",
      "limitation": "The CSL combines named U.S. source lists but is not a universal watchlist. A possible name match requires source-list review and identity resolution."
    }
  ],
  "facts": [
    {
      "fact_key": "source-specific",
      "label": "Core boundary",
      "value": "Each list has a named authority and purpose",
      "source": {
        "source_key": "ita-csl",
        "name": "Consolidated Screening List",
        "publisher": "U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration",
        "official_url": "https://www.trade.gov/consolidated-screening-list",
        "source_date_kind": "accessed",
        "source_date": "2026-07-20",
        "limitation": "The CSL combines named U.S. source lists but is not a universal watchlist. A possible name match requires source-list review and identity resolution."
      }
    },
    {
      "fact_key": "csl-scope",
      "label": "CSL scope",
      "value": "Combined search across named Commerce, State, and Treasury source lists",
      "source": {
        "source_key": "ita-csl",
        "name": "Consolidated Screening List",
        "publisher": "U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration",
        "official_url": "https://www.trade.gov/consolidated-screening-list",
        "source_date_kind": "accessed",
        "source_date": "2026-07-20",
        "limitation": "The CSL combines named U.S. source lists but is not a universal watchlist. A possible name match requires source-list review and identity resolution."
      }
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "Is there one universal watchlist?",
      "answer": "No. Authorities publish different lists for different legal programs and screening purposes."
    }
  ]
}