answer_hitl
[SUPPORT] Answer a pending HITL request programmatically. Marks it answered so the waiting session can resume. Use list_hitl_requests to find request IDs. Persistent-state disclosure: on hosted Meridian, supplied text and project/session metadata -- including task log entries, pinned decisions, s...
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-ajc3xc-meridian/answer-hitl.md
What answer_hitl does on Meridian
AI agents call answer_hitl to permanently remove resources in Meridian, typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
answer | string | Yes | |
request_id | string | Yes | |
answered_by | string | — | Optional human_id of the answerer. |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why answer_hitl is rated Critical
An AI agent that decides to call answer_hitl doesn't hesitate, doesn't double-check, and doesn't stop at one. Whatever it removes from Meridian is gone. There is no undo for destructive operations.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs answer_hitl safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Meridian, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For answer_hitl, this is the rule to start with:
answer_hitl is removed from the agent's tool list entirely, so the agent never calls it. The rest of the server keeps working.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Meridian, apply this rule, and every answer_hitl call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about answer_hitl
[SUPPORT] Answer a pending HITL request programmatically. Marks it answered so the waiting session can resume. Use list_hitl_requests to find request IDs. Persistent-state disclosure: on hosted Meridian, supplied text and project/session metadata -- including task log entries, pinned decisions, sprint items, notes, handoff/goal state, and HITL queue items -- are sent to and stored in Meridian's service, in an isolated per-tenant Postgres database (Neon); self-hosted deployments keep the same categories in the configured local SQLite/Postgres database. This data is visible in the dashboard and API, and may resurface in later project context or handoffs. Notes and pinned decisions can be deleted individually; task log entries and sprint items can be deleted via the dashboard/API (not exposed as an agent-facing tool); HITL queue items and handoff state have no per-record delete. Full removal of any of this data is available via project or account deletion, using the documented controls. Do not include secrets. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Meridian MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.
answer_hitl accepts 3 parameters: answer, request_id, answered_by. Required: answer, request_id. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Meridian MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for answer_hitl: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Meridian. Nothing to install.
answer_hitl is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the answer_hitl rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for answer_hitl. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
answer_hitl is provided by the Meridian MCP server (@meridianmcp/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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