[Foundation-l] Note regarding status of privacy policy

Sat Aug 9 17:16:55 UTC 2008

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SlimVirgin wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 9, 2008 at 10:46 AM, elisabeth bauer
> <eflebeth at googlemail.com> wrote:
>> 2008/8/8 Michael Snow <wikipedia at verizon.net>:
>>
>>> The board intends to vote on this version, but before we do, I wanted to
>>> provide one last opportunity for your feedback.
>> While the policy deals at length with who has access it is very silent
>> about when all these persons are allowed to access my data and
>> actually access my data. The only thing somehow related to this was
>> "As a general principle, the access to, and retention of, personally
>> identifiable data in all projects should be minimal and should be used
>> only internally to serve the well-being of the projects." which is
>> somehow a bit vague. Who defines what is well-being? How is this
>> controlled? Who does guarantee that a nosy checkuser doesn't just look
>> up my user information, revealing my employer,  the wikipedia user
>> name of my boyfriend and other friends just for fun? How would I even
>> know?
> 
> Elian, this is exactly the situation we have on the English Wikipedia.
> Jimbo takes the view that checkusers may be conducted more or less at
> random, for no reason, and the checkusers follow that lead. In other
> words, the Foundation's checkuser policy is being openly flouted.
> 
> We've been told we can't complain to the Ombudsman commission because
> they only deal with violations of the privacy policy, not the
> checkuser policy. We've been told we have no right to know whether
> we've been checked. Attempts to introduce such a rule have led to the
> checkusers saying they will not follow it. And when we do find out
> that we've been checked, the only concern of the checkusers is to find
> out who told us, and to punish that person. It really is a very bad
> situation for the Foundation, one that's bound to lead to trouble
> sooner or later.
> 
> Sarah
> 
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I personally don't mind being checked.  Whenever, by whomever, so long
as the results are not disclosed. (disclosure, not checking, is governed
by the privacy policy.

- --
Best,
Jon

[User:NonvocalScream]
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