No, the WMF can't be physically prevent from using superprotect or something like it. Removing the tool from the software would be more a symbolic measure than anything.
In principle though, it may be possible to convince the WMF not to use it (or only use it under conditions agreed upon in consultation with the editor communities). Building such an agreement could have benefits for WMF-Community relations, whereas misuse of the tool would be detrimental to community relations. Though intangible, those relationships are important, and the WMF appreciates that there is value there that should be considered.
So, no, we can't force the WMF to respect our wishes, but we can hope that they will work with us because a good relationship between the WMF and the editor community is important for both groups.
-Robert Rohde
On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 10:55 AM, Peter Southwood < peter.southwood@telkomsa.net> wrote:
Is there actually any way that WMF could be prevented from access to the tool if and when they decide they need it? If not, this discussion seems a bit pointless. Do they not have physical access to the hardware and complete access to the software? If they decide they need to use it they will do so. They may do so for good or bad reasons, depending on who is doing the reasoning, and we all have the option of explaining after the fact why it should have been done differently. The person or group who authorises the action takes the responsibility. Cheers, Peter
-----Original Message----- From: wikimedia-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto: wikimedia-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Pine W Sent: Thursday, 13 August 2015 10:26 AM To: Wikimedia Mailing List Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Superprotect's first birthday
A few legitimate use cases could be:
*Superprotection by stewards of legally or technically sensitive pages, to prevent damage caused by a hijacked admin account. The theory here is that admin accounts are more numerous than steward accounts, so the liklihood of a successful admin account hijack may be higher. Superprotection would proactively limit possible damage. Admins doing routine maintenance work, or taking actions with community consent, could simply make a request for a temporary lift of superprotect by a steward or ask a steward to make an edit themselves.
*Upon community request, superprotection of pages by a steward where those pages are the subject of wheel-warring among local admins.
*Superprotection of a page by a steward for legal reasons at the request of WMF Legal, for example if a page is the subject of a legal dispute and normal full protection is inadequate for some compelling reason.
None of this is an endorsement of WMF's first use of superprotect. I would prefer that if superprotect continues to exist as a tool, that it be in the hands of the stewards and not WMF directly.
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