diff --git a/config/netlify-production-release.json b/config/netlify-production-release.json
index 1a91c30..ce8e363 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-CONTENT-001-SEPTEMBER-LOCATIONS-2026-09-14",
   "issueNumber": 685,
   "previewBranch": "codex/issue-685-netlify-release",
diff --git a/netlify.toml b/netlify.toml
index 9675b9a..2acae39 100644
--- a/netlify.toml
+++ b/netlify.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   command = "node ./scripts/netlify-release-build.js"
 
 [context.deploy-preview]
-  # The #685 control-branch preview verifies its exact pinned source. Other
+  # The temporary #685 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 745884e..ff3d73c 100644
--- a/tests/release-workflow.test.js
+++ b/tests/release-workflow.test.js
@@ -244,10 +244,10 @@ test('Netlify production is an exact-artifact release while previews remain avai
   });
 });
 
-test('Netlify manifest pins the active bounded #685 meeting-location release', () => {
+test('Netlify manifest pins the inactive bounded #685 meeting-location 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-CONTENT-001-SEPTEMBER-LOCATIONS-2026-09-14',
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ test('Netlify manifest pins the active bounded #685 meeting-location release', (
 test('pending #685 records keep #659 live until exact publication', () => {
   assert.match(
     netlifyConfig,
-    /#685 control-branch preview verifies its exact pinned source/i,
+    /temporary #685 production authority is inactive again/i,
   );
   pendingReleaseTruth.forEach((contents, relativePath) => {
     assert.match(contents, /#685/);