Glossary · Community
Chatham House Rule
The Chatham House Rule lets participants use the information they receive in a meeting but not reveal the identity or affiliation of the speaker or any other participant.
The Chatham House Rule lets participants use the information they receive in a meeting but not reveal the identity or affiliation of the speaker or any other participant. It originated at Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) in London in 1927. Every CIO Cafe table runs under it.
Why it matters at a CIO Cafe table
Terms like Chatham House Rule turn up at tables because the disagreement is usually about scope, not definition. Agreeing what the word means is the cheapest way to shorten a decision — which is why every table starts by framing the question in plain language.