[Foundation-l] Stalking, an attempt to clarify.

[John Barberio]

gerard.meijssen at gmail.com  wrote:
> There are in my opinion several issues at play. The most important  
> one is
> that actual stalking, behaviour with real life threads is an  
> observable
> phenomena and there are ample indications that the authorities fail  
> to take
> these things seriously. When people are REALLY insistent they get the
> attention that is required. The notion to leave it all to the  
> authorities
> leaves our fellow wikimedians that are threatened in this way  
> isolated and
> threatened.

The police and the courts are the authorities to deal with real life  
threats. Yes, this means it's up to the police to take things  
seriously, and sometimes they don't.  Unless you can think of some  
other tangible action Wikimedia could possibly take, all they can do  
is offer advice and support to victims of stalking, and co-operate  
with the authorities in investigation of stalking.

It's hugely important to understand that the Wikimedia foundation has  
no ability to take matters into it's own hands to deal with real life  
threats. They have no policing powers. At best, they could back people  
up when reporting things to the police or making a case for a  
restraining order. Wikimedia can neither force the police to take  
something seriously, or act as vigilantes and go after the stalkers  
themselves.

I think this discussion has detached off into the "The Wiki is it's  
own Country" fallacy. The Foundation is not a government, the wikis  
are not city states, the 'real world' laws and authorities are still  
in primacy. While Stalking and making threats of assault are indeed  
problems, it's far beyond the scope of Wikimedia to enforce laws and  
remedy's against it. These matters should and must be taken up with  
the government authorities of the police and courts. Setting up "Anti- 
Stalking Task Forces" and private mailing lists is not only useless,  
it's counter productive. Effort should be directed at helping people  
with support in contacting the police or getting a court order.

   - John