Even though I'm not an admin, I'd like to offer some ideas on the matter.
The major idea I have would offer a modicum of security: Wikipedia sets up a POP server for admins and the admins have their e-mails run through the server. Their personal data, such as their name, is scrubbed if the Admins wish it -- leaving only their handle on Wiki. Changing code a bit could, theoretically, screen their IPs so they were only visible to admins or higher -- thus eliminating one method of tracking them down.
Unfortunately, the rest is up to the Admins themselves. You can't stop someone from collecting data about you that's freely available unless you have evidence of malicious intent -- then the law can offer you protection. Of course, in theory, a court order would shut down his website if it could be proven that his actions were promoting illegal actions such as threats. But again, legal actions are something you want to save as a last-ditch effort since they take time and money and create a lot of publicity.
I don't know if this helps or not; I'm just a year-old editor on the project who is concerned for the safety and security of all involved. Brandt does not seem to be someone who has anyone's best interests in mind but his own.
--Martin Osterman
It seems to me that most people would not want to bother erasing their past information.
A small part of my name, Ilya N, and where I live (A suburb of Chicago Illinois but you can find out which with a little digging) has been out there for a while.
What I'm concerned about is if he starts putting out addresses, etc.
On 12/26/05, Martin Osterman stonewallgrant@gmail.com wrote:
Even though I'm not an admin, I'd like to offer some ideas on the matter.
The major idea I have would offer a modicum of security: Wikipedia sets up a POP server for admins and the admins have their e-mails run through the server. Their personal data, such as their name, is scrubbed if the Admins wish it -- leaving only their handle on Wiki. Changing code a bit could, theoretically, screen their IPs so they were only visible to admins or higher -- thus eliminating one method of tracking them down.
Unfortunately, the rest is up to the Admins themselves. You can't stop someone from collecting data about you that's freely available unless you have evidence of malicious intent -- then the law can offer you protection. Of course, in theory, a court order would shut down his website if it could be proven that his actions were promoting illegal actions such as threats. But again, legal actions are something you want to save as a last-ditch effort since they take time and money and create a lot of publicity.
I don't know if this helps or not; I'm just a year-old editor on the project who is concerned for the safety and security of all involved. Brandt does not seem to be someone who has anyone's best interests in mind but his own.
--Martin Osterman
WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
-- ~Ilya N. http://w3stuff.com/ilya/ (My website; DarkLordFoxx Media) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ilyanep (on Wikipedia)
On 12/26/05, Ilya N. ilyanep@gmail.com wrote:
What I'm concerned about is if he starts putting out addresses, etc.
For which he could argue no justification, since Wikipedia does not publish such information about anyone.
-Matt
Matt Brown wrote:
On 12/26/05, Ilya N. ilyanep@gmail.com wrote:
What I'm concerned about is if he starts putting out addresses, etc.
For which he could argue no justification, since Wikipedia does not publish such information about anyone.
True enough, but it's also easy to look things like that up in an online phone-book.
Ec
On 12/26/05, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Matt Brown wrote:
On 12/26/05, Ilya N. ilyanep@gmail.com wrote:
What I'm concerned about is if he starts putting out addresses, etc.
For which he could argue no justification, since Wikipedia does not publish such information about anyone.
True enough, but it's also easy to look things like that up in an online phone-book.
Ec
Really? I've tried to look someone up in a phone book before, but even if you know their name, you might still get 3 pages of names to go through.
Mgm
MacGyverMagic/Mgm wrote:
On 12/26/05, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Matt Brown wrote:
On 12/26/05, Ilya N. ilyanep@gmail.com wrote:
What I'm concerned about is if he starts putting out addresses, etc.
For which he could argue no justification, since Wikipedia does not publish such information about anyone.
True enough, but it's also easy to look things like that up in an online phone-book.
Really? I've tried to look someone up in a phone book before, but even if you know their name, you might still get 3 pages of names to go through.
It will vary. Very common names or people living in big cities will be more difficult to establish, but relatively rare names or small town people stand a better chance of being identified. The level of the searcher's skill can make a big difference.
Ec
My name's quite unique so it wouldn't work that way but I'm a minor so it would be some twisted internet phone book.
On 12/26/05, MacGyverMagic/Mgm macgyvermagic@gmail.com wrote:
On 12/26/05, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Matt Brown wrote:
On 12/26/05, Ilya N. ilyanep@gmail.com wrote:
What I'm concerned about is if he starts putting out addresses, etc.
For which he could argue no justification, since Wikipedia does not publish such information about anyone.
True enough, but it's also easy to look things like that up in an online phone-book.
Ec
Really? I've tried to look someone up in a phone book before, but even if you know their name, you might still get 3 pages of names to go through.
Mgm _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
-- ~Ilya N. http://w3stuff.com/ilya/ (My website; DarkLordFoxx Media) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ilyanep (on Wikipedia)