[WikiEN-l] User Protection Fund

Sun Jun 11 18:07:19 UTC 2006

A separate, but related issue to the Daniel Brandt thread.

It's common enough sense that Wikipedia is going to get sued someday.  
And I know we've been preparing financially for that.

But with the rise of Brandt, Wikipedia Review, and whatever is going  
to come after them in this progression, the fact of the matter is  
that admins and regular editors are in danger too. Not just legal  
danger (As I assume the Foundation would use its legal resources to  
protect an admin who was sued), but personal danger.

Our photos, names, and cities are being published. People are  
stalking us. Eventually, something bad is going to happen.

When it does, there should be a fund to help - whether its helping  
with the medical bills of someone who's physically attacked, helping  
with the legal bills of someone who's trying to stop a stalker, or  
helping defray the costs of someone who's fired because of harassment  
at their workplace, Wikipedia needs to be able to help the volunteers  
who are put in danger by helping Wikipedia.

I believe that we should, as soon as possible, start a special  
fundraiser to build this fund, and after that should devote a regular  
portion of the Foundation budget to it.

Supporting Wikipedia is acquiring a high price. Simply put, Wikipedia  
needs the ability to support us.

-Phil