User:White Cat/Checkuser lite

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This is a proposal for semi-checkuser privileges to check for sockpuppets. See below for a draft. This idea was first mentioned by User:FrancisTyers on IRC during a casual conversation. The original version of the ideas below are a result of the discussions between User:FrancisTyers, User:Robchurch and User:Cool Cat

Contents

[edit] Procedure

  1. Two wikipedia usernames are inputted: User:Username A and User:Username B (anon usernames (aka IPs)) should never be a valid input so as not to comprimise privacy.
  2. The IPs (logged on wikimedia servers) are checked for simlarities
    • If people are making identical edits thats generaly adequate enough to (blindly) block them both for sockpuppetary. This tool would only reinforce such blocks.
  3. Returns Likely (very similar or identical IPs) / Maybe (similar but not so close IP range) / Unlikely (IP range not similar) for a comparasion of the ips of users.

[edit] Further Suggestions

  1. This could also be a single username input checked for edits by other users from same ip. Which may...
    • Return the list of users who have used the IP
    • A yes/no value if the user has made edits as an anon without revealing his ip. (if an anon and non anon user is making identical edits they obviously do not care about their IPs privacy)
      • This may be bad though I am not so sure about this suggestion.
  2. Checked checkuser lite maybe either...
    • Selective list of users whom are preferably Administrators
      • I for one am not an admin who does RC patrol and if many users are vandalising the same article (with same IP or in a similar IP range) this tool would be a great help to me.
    • All Wikipedia:Administrators
    • Every user (Since the IP isnt revealed)

[edit] What this tool is not

  1. This tool is just a tool. There are valid reasons for multiple users to have same IPs (such as proxies or shared computers). This tool should never be used solely to block users.
  2. This tool is not an invasion of privacy, the IP is never revealed
  3. A replacement to the existing checuser process. Checkuser is an art, this tool is intended to lighten the load of chekusers for more clear cut cases.

[edit] See also