[WikiEN-l] Re: Arbitration Committee members granted checkuser tool

[Kelly Martin]

On 11/14/05, Carbonite <carbonite.wp at gmail.com> wrote:

> > In case you are not aware of it, Yahoo recently helped the chinese
> > government to uncover a chinese "dissident" and this lead the guy to
> > prison. Have no doubts that some of our participants, in particular
> > those from certain regions, or those participating to wikinews, are at
> > the same amount of risk. *You* could yourself directly endanger a life
> > in giving private information. I hope that in spite that you do not
> > receive a sufficient financial compensation, you will be careful. I
> > think feeling less responsability due to the fact you are not paid is
> > not a very good approach of the tool.
>
>  If someone's life or family is endangered by editing Wikipedia, they should
> immediately stop. Seriously, if a user is in a situation where they'll lose
> their job, freedom or life because of what they contribute to a website,
> they need to take responsibility for themselves and cease all editing. Of
> course we need to protect the privacy of all editors, and I fully support
> removal of checkuser access for anyone who misuses the tool. However,
> ultimately it up to the every user to ensure they're not putting themselves
> at risk.

Indeed.  While those of us who use checkuser are aware of the
potential for either financial or personal injury to those who edit
Wikipedia when they ought not be, and will endeavor to protect the
privacy of such people, the onus on those who violate either
employment agreements or local legal authorities by editing Wikipedia
when they ought not be falls on them, and not on us.

Kelly