Hello, all.
Nutshell: this is a call for applications to volunteer for the Interim Trust & Safety Case Review Committee (hereafter Case Review Committee) which will stand until the Universal Code of Conduct escalation process pathways are defined and established. Text below explains what the committee is intended to do and what is required of applicants. If it resonates with you, please apply. Please forward this to any groups you think appropriate!(Translatable version on Meta [1])
*
The Board of Trustees has recently asked the Wikimedia Foundation to put together an interim volunteer community review process to help support Trust & Safety behavioral investigations by ensuring that there is a functionary appeal process available for borderline cases.[2] For clarity, this is to appeal cases handled by the Foundation’s professional Trust & Safety staff. It is not to appeal governance decisions by community administrators or governance bodies. A permanent review process for Trust & Safety team cases will be created later as part of the final stages of the Universal Code of Conduct, but this quickly constituted interim Case Review Committee will be asked to serve until it is functional, anywhere from January 1 2021 to June 30 2021. This is a critical layer of oversight to ensure that Foundation actions are fair and unbiased and that the Foundation doesn’t step in where it is not necessary to do so.
We are looking for functionaries and experienced volunteers with an interest in joining this group. If the work resonates and you qualify, please apply.
First, there’s a page on Meta with more information about how this committee will work,[3] but, in brief, it will review the case files of qualifying Trust & Safety investigations that are appealed either by the person who requested the T&S investigation or by a person sanctioned as a result of one. We anticipate that members may need to dedicate an average of about 5 hours of work a week reviewing case files. As this is a new process, it may prove significantly less; if it proves more, it may be necessary to expand the review committee. You will be asked to meet with the rest of the group on a quarterly basis to discuss the committee itself and how it might be improved.
There are a few very specific requirements for those who are accepted. If you are interested in applying, we ask that you first read the Committee charter and decide if you are willing and able to abide by the conditions of membership and if you meet the criteria outlined there.[3] If you then want to apply, please write to legal@wikimedia.org using “Case Review Committee” in your subject line. Please include your username, your credentials, and a statement of what you hope to bring to the role. Credentials in this case refers to community background - have you been an administrator? A member of an arbitration committee? Where or when? What experiences do you think have prepared you to do this well? Reference to professional credentials will also be taken into account, but does require legal identification so that it may be confirmed. Otherwise, we will only be asking for legal identification from applicants who are finalists.
Unfortunately, English language fluency is a must. While we hope to get as much linguistic diversity as possible, Trust & Safety’s case files are lengthy documents written in complex English, and expedience and current availability of resourcing does not make it possible to provide translations for the interim process.
This is an important role and a new direction in collaborations between Trust & Safety staff and volunteers to help make sure we get the balance right in protecting communities - both in supporting community members and recognizing community autonomy.
Please submit your application by the end of July 18th.
Best regards,
Maggie
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Call_...
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/May_2...
[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Chart...
Hello, all.
I just wanted to remind people that we are looking for volunteers. I'm greatly appreciate for those who've volunteered already, but did want to be sure that those who are considering it don't last track of the deadline of July 18th.
This committee will be both doing important work by reviewing cases on request and also helping us to figure out how to make sure that the final committee is as functional as possible, based on their experiences with this interim group.
I understand that some may be concerned by the time commitment - we are asking for "up to" five hours a week, but I hope it will be significantly less than this, and if the time becomes too much for people we may be able to expand the group. If not, we will certainly understand if people need to withdraw or schedule breaks.
I also invite you to share with others the call for applicants (on Meta: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Call_... ).
Warm regards, Maggie
On Mon, Jul 6, 2020 at 11:20 AM Maggie Dennis mdennis@wikimedia.org wrote:
Hello, all.
Nutshell: this is a call for applications to volunteer for the Interim Trust & Safety Case Review Committee (hereafter Case Review Committee) which will stand until the Universal Code of Conduct escalation process pathways are defined and established. Text below explains what the committee is intended to do and what is required of applicants. If it resonates with you, please apply. Please forward this to any groups you think appropriate!(Translatable version on Meta [1])
The Board of Trustees has recently asked the Wikimedia Foundation to put together an interim volunteer community review process to help support Trust & Safety behavioral investigations by ensuring that there is a functionary appeal process available for borderline cases.[2] For clarity, this is to appeal cases handled by the Foundation’s professional Trust & Safety staff. It is not to appeal governance decisions by community administrators or governance bodies. A permanent review process for Trust & Safety team cases will be created later as part of the final stages of the Universal Code of Conduct, but this quickly constituted interim Case Review Committee will be asked to serve until it is functional, anywhere from January 1 2021 to June 30 2021. This is a critical layer of oversight to ensure that Foundation actions are fair and unbiased and that the Foundation doesn’t step in where it is not necessary to do so.
We are looking for functionaries and experienced volunteers with an interest in joining this group. If the work resonates and you qualify, please apply.
First, there’s a page on Meta with more information about how this committee will work,[3] but, in brief, it will review the case files of qualifying Trust & Safety investigations that are appealed either by the person who requested the T&S investigation or by a person sanctioned as a result of one. We anticipate that members may need to dedicate an average of about 5 hours of work a week reviewing case files. As this is a new process, it may prove significantly less; if it proves more, it may be necessary to expand the review committee. You will be asked to meet with the rest of the group on a quarterly basis to discuss the committee itself and how it might be improved.
There are a few very specific requirements for those who are accepted. If you are interested in applying, we ask that you first read the Committee charter and decide if you are willing and able to abide by the conditions of membership and if you meet the criteria outlined there.[3] If you then want to apply, please write to legal@wikimedia.org using “Case Review Committee” in your subject line. Please include your username, your credentials, and a statement of what you hope to bring to the role. Credentials in this case refers to community background - have you been an administrator? A member of an arbitration committee? Where or when? What experiences do you think have prepared you to do this well? Reference to professional credentials will also be taken into account, but does require legal identification so that it may be confirmed. Otherwise, we will only be asking for legal identification from applicants who are finalists.
Unfortunately, English language fluency is a must. While we hope to get as much linguistic diversity as possible, Trust & Safety’s case files are lengthy documents written in complex English, and expedience and current availability of resourcing does not make it possible to provide translations for the interim process.
This is an important role and a new direction in collaborations between Trust & Safety staff and volunteers to help make sure we get the balance right in protecting communities - both in supporting community members and recognizing community autonomy.
Please submit your application by the end of July 18th.
Best regards,
Maggie
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Call_...
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/May_2...
[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Chart...
-- Maggie Dennis Vice President, Community Resilience & Sustainability Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org