[Foundation-l] Dutch moderators destroy evidence of checkuser abuse

[Erik van den Muijzenberg]

On 16-jun-2006, at 13:45, Kelly Martin wrote:

> I, for one, would appreciate a fair and accurate translation.

Since Waerth is Dutch himself, he is the one to provide one in the  
first place.

I the meantime I will discuss the matter briefly; refering to http:// 
meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CheckUser_Policy#Wikimedia_privacy_policy

Well first, Waerth uses the subject "The mods destroy proof of their  
abuse of power".
Apparently he is refering to the fact that his complaint is no longer  
to be read in De Kroeg (Dutch villagepump).
However his complaint was only moved - to the backroom of De Kroeg.  
At NL this is standardprocedure for wild accusations as Waerth is  
knowing very well.

In the bodytext Waerth complaints about user Walter who blocked the  
IP-address Waerth was using for sockpuppetry.
Waerth states:

1) checkuser is a tool for stewards
2) checkuser can be used in a case of utmost emergency only, to find  
the IP-address of somebody severely vandalizing the wiki
3) Walter used checkuser; proof: he blocked my (Waerths) IP-address
4) by using checkuser Walter violated all regulations concerning  
checkuser
5) Walter violated my (Waerths) privacy
6) Walter violated the rule that checkuser should be restricted to  
emergencies only
7) Walter violated the rule that the use of checkuser needs the  
agreement of several people

I will refute this as follows:

1) The CheckUser Policy states ""Only a very few editors and Stewards  
are allowed to have the CheckUser status. Editors will only have  
CheckUser status locally."
It follows checkuser is not restricted to stewards. Besides: Walter  
*is* steward of nl.wikipedia, plus he is approved for checkuser  
capability.
2) It also states: "The tool is to be used to fight vandalism or  
check abuse of sockpuppets, for example when there is a suspicion of  
illegal voting."
It follows the use of checkuser is not restricted to vandalfighting.  
It can be used for investigation into sockpuppetry as well.
In this particular case, Waerth was using several sockpuppetts to  
escape a ban. The use of checkuser for an investigation into  
sockpuppetry is in accordance with the CheckUser Policy then.
3) Strictly speaking there is no evidence for this; though it sounds  
reasonable. However Waerth should proof his accusation first.
4) Again: Walter used checkuser for an investigation into Waerth  
escaping a ban by means of sockpuppets,  in accordance with the  
CheckUser Policy.
5) At http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speciaal:Ipblocklist a IP-block by  
Walter is mentioned. It reads as follows:

Op 15 jun 2006 22:58 (vervalt op 17 jun 2006 22:58) blokkeerde Walter  
(Overleg): 203.144.160.245 (bijdragen) (ipadres van actieve sokpopper)

I'll translate the entry:
On 15 jun 2006 22:58 (ends on 17 jun 2006 22:58) Walter (Discussion)  
blocked: 203.144.160.245 (contributions) (ipaddress of active  
sockpuppeteer)

Though other moderators mentioned Waerth while blocking other  
sockpuppets of Waerth, *Walter* didn't.
So, no violation of privacy there.
6) Checkuser Policy states: "The tool is to be used to fight  
vandalism or check abuse of sockpuppets, for example when there is a  
suspicion of illegal voting."
Therefore the use of checkuser is not restricted to emergencies;  
Walter didn't violate the policy then.
7) NL doesn't have an Arbitration Committee yet. Therefore the  
relevant rule is: "The community must approve at least two CheckUsers  
per consensus. Activity will be checked mutually." NL has two users  
that are approved for checkuser capability. Whether they investigated  
the case at hand together, as the Checkuser Policiy seems to indicate  
should be the proper procedure, I don't know. But Waerth is the one  
to substantiate his accusation here that they didn't, and he doesn't.

I would say the accusations of Waerth are not substantiated enough  
and to a great extent they can be simply refuted by pointing to the  
relevant lines in the Checkuser Policy, as I have demonstrated above.

I think Waerth should withdraw his accusations and stop trolling.


Erik vdMb aka Muijz