[Foundation-l] Changes to the identification policies and procedures

[Risker]

On 3 February 2011 22:27, Steven Walling <steven.walling at gmail.com> wrote:

> The discussion has only been going on at the OTRS list sine February 1st. I
> know a public announcement is coming because it's standard operating
> procedure at the Foundation. Please be patient.
>
>
Steven, I recognize you're in a difficult spot here, and so are some other
staff members who I know are genuinely working in good faith here. However,
thinking that one could send out an instruction like that to hundreds of
volunteers throughout all of these different projects, and not having it
surface, is just a little bit naive.

Further, there are some serious concerns being expressed in various places,
which go all the way down to whether or not the resolution on which the
instruction is based actually has the effect that is intended.  Simply put,
identifying to the WMF does not, in law, make a person accountable, if it
cannot be proven that they know what they're accountable for, or to whom
they are accountable. Unverified identification provides even less
protection.  Methods of securing the data have not been addressed fully
addressed, nor has the issue of whether this applies to *every*
identification made to the WMF as of now, or if it applies only to OTRS
agents identifying.  We have a pile of people about to run in the steward
elections, will it affect them?

I support the notion of individuals with advanced permissions and access to
nonpublic information being accountable to the WMF for the use of this
information. But sending in an unverified document isn't going to do that,
and it never was.

Risker/Anne