Requests for comment/Unauthorized screenshots from private WhatsApp conversations

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Dear Wikimedians,

We are writing to seek clarification on Wikimedia's stance regarding the use of unsolicited screenshots taken from private WhatsApp groups as a basis for blocking editors.

Recently, there has been a concerning incident where such screenshots were utilized to justify the blocking of four editors, among them an editor with a 19-year history on Wikipedia and a woman with 14 years of editing.

Given the gravity of these actions and their potential implications for the community, We wish to understand Wikimedia's official stance on the use of such evidence in disciplinary actions.

We would also like clarification on whether Wikipedia's policies and rules extend to an editor's everyday life and external writing activities. Additionally, we would like to understand the mechanisms Wikipedia employs to monitor its editors in such contexts, if applicable.

Could you please provide clarity on Wikimedia's position regarding the appropriateness of utilizing unsolicited screenshots from private platforms in editor blocks? Furthermore, any guidelines or policies related to this matter would be immensely helpful for the community to comprehend and adhere to. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your prompt response.

La Nave Partirà (talk) 17:48, 14 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

User:ELappen (WMF), User:CAshraf (WMF), User:Mdennis (WMF),

I look forward to hearing from you,

La Nave Partirà (talk) 18:46, 14 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

First of all, editors should not share their experiences via DM excessively. What if Meta has access to the convos and sell data to advertisers? Ahri.boy (talk) 12:09, 16 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I understand this may sound absurd, but on my local Wiki, admins have blocked editors based on WhatsApp screenshots. I am seeking guidance from the Wikimedia team. La Nave Partirà (talk) 14:18, 16 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Dear Wikimedia team,

I am writing on behalf of myself and other editors of the Hebrew Wikipedia. Recently, 43 editors were blocked at once, all with about a year of experience, and the story even reached the Israeli press. The block had a justified reason, but a week later, 4 veteran editors were blocked without justification, supposedly based on screenshots from WhatsApp groups. I will share all the details of the strange story later; we would like to hear Wikimedia's position regarding the use of private material such as WhatsApp screenshots.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

La Nave Partirà (talk) 05:31, 20 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Can you link these accounts and details of the block here? We (as a Wikimedia community) cannot judge on basis of impartial data. A09|(pogovor) 18:44, 22 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This RFC will also apply to other messaging apps regardless. Ahri.boy (talk) 13:41, 21 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That's not on you to determine. A lot of stuff, like enwiki revdel/oversight as well as Meta lock processes happen offwiki (however there are also onwiki alternatives set in place). A09|(pogovor) 18:42, 22 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Comment You might want to rephrase the title of this request for comment, as far as I can understand the screenshots were not made public, which makes the title itself a bit conflict. Best, A09|(pogovor) 18:45, 22 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The person who took the screenshots uploaded three of them a year ago, and they were deleted. However, the question is fundamental: Is Wikipedia allowed to use such photos, inform the community about them, and take actions based on these screenshots?

The use of the screenshots was justified by arguing that the admin of the WhatsApp group was careless and allowed a person he did not know to join. Therefore, Wikipedia is not to blame, and the photos can be used.

The other fundamental question is whether Wikipedia's rules apply to the personal life, thoughts, and writings of editors. La Nave Partirà (talk) 07:18, 23 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Could you link the image filenames so someone could verify they were actually uploaded and that this saying is not just a baseless accusation? Furthermore, without at least a transcription of these messages one cannot fairly judge on whether it's fair to take an action or not. I see no problem in WikiMedia groups existing outside the wiki sphere on various social media platforms and should not be in domain of WMF to close down such groups. I'd like to see more context regarding these messages and not just "messages exist, someone got banned for that, please take action". I'd like to see more data for a fair judgement/comment.

Also, Wikipedia rules do not apply to private life, editors are not thoughtless machines and they have their own lives. Thus no policy should regulate ones own private life. A09|(pogovor) 08:38, 23 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]