diff --git a/config/netlify-production-release.json b/config/netlify-production-release.json
index 3c65d8e..83e505d 100644
--- a/config/netlify-production-release.json
+++ b/config/netlify-production-release.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schemaVersion": 1,
-  "active": true,
+  "active": false,
   "releaseId": "WEB-002C-MEMBER-DIRECTORY-PREVIEW-2026-08-13",
   "issueNumber": 623,
   "previewBranch": "codex/issue-623-netlify-release",
diff --git a/netlify.toml b/netlify.toml
index cf5b3eb..29b3ecd 100644
--- a/netlify.toml
+++ b/netlify.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   command = "node ./scripts/netlify-release-build.js"
 
 [context.deploy-preview]
-  # The #623 control-branch preview verifies its exact pinned source. Other
+  # The temporary #623 production authority is inactive again. Ordinary
   # previews use their checked-out tree; production still needs the exact gate.
   command = "node ./scripts/netlify-release-build.js --preview"
 
diff --git a/tests/release-workflow.test.js b/tests/release-workflow.test.js
index e18e38e..0e03380 100644
--- a/tests/release-workflow.test.js
+++ b/tests/release-workflow.test.js
@@ -226,10 +226,10 @@ test('Netlify production is an exact-artifact release while previews remain avai
   });
 });
 
-test('Netlify manifest pins the active bounded #623 interface release', () => {
+test('Netlify manifest pins the inactive bounded #623 interface release', () => {
   const loaded = loadManifest(NETLIFY_MANIFEST_PATH);
   assert.equal(loaded.ok, true);
-  assert.equal(loaded.manifest.active, true);
+  assert.equal(loaded.manifest.active, false);
   assert.equal(
     loaded.manifest.releaseId,
     'WEB-002C-MEMBER-DIRECTORY-PREVIEW-2026-08-13',
@@ -273,11 +273,11 @@ test('Netlify manifest pins the active bounded #623 interface release', () => {
 test('completed #473 records remain the current live predecessor truth', () => {
   assert.match(
     netlifyConfig,
-    /#623 control-branch preview verifies its exact pinned source/i,
+    /temporary #623 production authority is inactive again/i,
   );
   assert.match(
     netlifyConfig,
-    /Other[\s\S]{0,20}previews use their checked-out tree/i,
+    /Ordinary[\s\S]{0,20}previews use their checked-out tree/i,
   );
 
   const expectedTruth = new Map([