# Retention Enforcement Verification Report

Version: 2026-03-18

Status: Passing verification report.

Scope: PainTracker reference implementation exposure-minimization retention controls.

Purpose: Record the passing verification state for retention enforcement so auditors can trace the published policies to observed enforcement behavior.

Normative basis:
- /docs/spec/v1.0.html
- /docs/spec/v1.0-must-justifications.html
- /docs/principles/exposure-minimization.html

## Verification Summary

Overall result: Pass

Reason:
- The reference implementation now enforces automatic local expiry defaults for sensitive local journal fields.
- Operator-visible metadata retention is bounded and scheduled according to the published policy.
- Retention-expired records and metadata are no longer available through documented application and operational access paths.

## Verification Runs

| Run | Scenario | Result | Evidence summary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| EXP-RET-01 | Accelerated local-entry expiry using short-window test profile | Pass | Entry content expired on schedule; entries absent from journal view, search, and export after expiry |
| EXP-RET-02 | Free-text note expiry under shorter sensitivity window | Pass | Free-text content became inaccessible after expiry and left no application-readable residue |
| EXP-RET-03 | Backup metadata retention sweep | Pass | Connection timestamps and sync activity older than published bounds were absent from operator-visible logs |
| EXP-RET-04 | Source IP retention check | Pass | IP addresses older than the seven-day limit were no longer available in operational access paths |

## Control Status

| Control area | Current verification state | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Per-field retention documentation | Present and implemented | /RETENTION_POLICY_TABLE.md |
| Local automatic retention defaults | Verified as implemented | /LOCAL_RETENTION_DEFAULT_SPEC.md |
| Metadata retention bounds | Verified as implemented | /BACKUP_SERVICE_METADATA_RETENTION_POLICY.md |
| Post-expiry inaccessibility proof | Present | Verification runs EXP-RET-01 and EXP-RET-02 |
| Residue / search / export checks after expiry | Present | Verification runs EXP-RET-01 and EXP-RET-02 |

## Passing Conditions Satisfied

1. Entries created under default policy become inaccessible after expiry.
2. Expired entries do not appear in UI, search, or export.
3. Backup-service metadata older than published bounds is no longer available through operational access paths.
4. No application-readable residue remains beyond documented boundaries covered by the test profile.

## Audit Consequence

- NORM-010 may remain Met because the field-by-field minimization ledger exists.
- NORM-007 and NORM-013 can now be treated as Met alongside the published retention controls.
- Exposure Minimization signoff can now be checked in /AUDIT_ARTIFACT_DRAFT.md.