Feminist SF Wiki:Privacy policy

Note -- these are drafts until by consensus or end of controversy they seem final-ish.

I. General principles

Nobody is selling information gained off this page, but there's no security on this site, either. (As of March 2009.) So don't post information you wouldn't want to be publicly known ...

If someone has posted information that you feel violates your privacy, you can edit it yourself. If this is not adequate for some reason, feel free to contact the site administrators.

II. Elaborations

If someone wishes to maintain a pseudonymous identity that is their prerogative.

If it's not clear whether a pseudonymous identity is public or private, then asking the person is recommended. In the absence of information, a reasonable guess is appropriate. Reasonable guesses should balance in favor of privacy -- if there is a reasonable belief that the person intends their pseudonymity to be private, then that should be respected.

Any law enforcement subpoenas, warrants, etc., should be resisted until the FSFwiki editors are convinced that (a) the requests are lawful; (b) the information requested is reasonable; (c) the requests are Not Evil.

In short:

• No outing of living people's private pseudonyms or other private identity information.
• Public pseudonyms may be treated like nicknames.
• People's choice of identity -- names, pseudonyms, various social class identities -- should be respected as best as possible.
• Law enforcement & litigation-related requests should have judicial oversight and not be evil.

III. What to do when ...

NOTE: drafting is incomplete. basically this is intended to be a guide about how to handle specific instances of references to pseudonymous identities or people with pseudonymous identities.

FSFwiki editors prefer to maintain pseudonymity on the FSFwiki

• FSFwiki editors who are pseudonymous plainly state so on their user pages. [[User:User's unique username]]

A person is mentioned in the wiki who desires to maintain pseudonymity

• Each page that references the person by their pseudonym should include a link to the FSFwiki entry on that pseudonym, or a footnote reference that notes that the pseudonym is private and links to documentation of that privacy.
• Appropriate documentation should be referenced in the wiki with each use of the pseudonym. For instance, add an internal link to the FSFwiki entry on that pseudonym; on the FSFwiki entry, explain that the pseudonym is intentionally private, and add a footnote reference to the location where the person has stated their intention for their pseudonym to be private. For instance, link to the person's LJ user profile, or comment on the Internet.
• Ideally the entry to the FSFwiki entry for that person's real life identity will also include a statement documenting the person's privacy policy. It may be difficult to include such a statement without inadvertently revealing information about that person. If necessary, please contact the FSFwiki administrators with the information so that they can monitor the relevant pages.
• Ideally any real person discussed in the wiki has an entry about them. That entry should include all publicly authorized, relevant, identifying information about that identity. For instance, links to blogs or official websites, any pertinent publicly available biographical details, etc.

• Ideally any real person discussed in the wiki has an entry about them. That entry should include all publicly authorized identifying information about that identity.
  • If a person has authorized connecting their real life identity (X) with their pseudonym (Y), then it is desirable for entries for every significant identity to be included on the FSFwiki. The primary entry should be on the entry for the person's best-known identity; all other pages should include a redirect to that
  • If an FSFwiki editor (A) knows both someone's real life identity (X) and their pseudonym (Y), then that editor (A) is responsible for adding links or documentation whenever they use either that person's real life identity (X) or their pseudonym (Y).
• If someone is referenced by a pseudonym only, then please add an internal link to that pseudonym's FSFwiki entry or a footnote reference to somewhere that person specifically requests or states that they maintain separation between their pseudonym and their real life identity.

A person is mentioned on the wiki who uses a pseudonym but has authorized publicly linking that pseudonym to their real life identity.

• If someone is referenced in a way that links a real-life identity with a pseudonym, please add a footnote reference to somewhere that person specifically authorizes or makes it clear that their pseudonym and their real life identity are publicly connected.
• If someone is referenced by a pseudonym only, then please add a footnote reference or a link to an FSFwiki entry for that person that makes plain the connection between their pseudonym and real life identity.
• If someone (X) has publicly authorized connectivity between their pseudonym (Y) and their real life identity (X), then wherever the pseudonym (Y) is used, a reference to their real life identity (X) should be included. Ideally that is in the form of an internal link to a page on the FSFwiki about the person. Footnotes that include references to public statements by that person

You (the reader or FSFwiki editor) discover that someone's identities have been inappropriately linked together.

• If it is a privacy violation, or you are concerned it might be, please contact the FSFwiki administrators.
• If it is an erroneous linking please simply de-link them.
• If it is an undocumented use of a pseudonym, or you are aware that that person's privacy policy has not been referenced, please add appropriate documentation.

See also

• Pseudonymity is not an excuse for otherwise inappropriate behavior.

Comments

Please discuss on the talk page.