On 8/13/07, K P kpbotany@gmail.com wrote:
But that's the out, only breaches of checkuser that breach "privacy policy is a violation of privacy policy." So, if a checkuser stumbles upon some information about you, that isn't covered by privacy policy, and WHILE NOT RUNNING A CHECK USER ON YOU, there's never going to be an invasion of privacy policy.
Just as in the case where a non-checkuser discovers personal information about you while not running a checkuser. I'm not sure why you think checkusers should be barred from learning certain things NOT through the extra tools given. The special rules governing the use of checkuser govern only the use of the tool and the information obtained that way. Otherwise, the user is treated the same as a regular user or admin.
So, nicely offering to share results about someone to others with check user status on this list serve is not a violation of privacy policy.
Checkusers are allowed to share information with other checkusers. Non-checkusers can give us information. I cannot, however, reveal information obtained through checkuser, by myself or another, outside of policy.
It's an outrageous and childish abuse of powers. Checkuser isn't a game or a private toy, and Wikipedia should NOT consider people's privacy a toy that certain "trusted" folks are given the power to play with.
I personally do not treat it as a game or a private toy.
However, your right to privacy on Wikipedia is not absolute. Especially, if you sockpuppet then that information can be revealed, and if you vandalize wikipedia information about you may be used to block your vandalism and track it.
-Matt