Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/header: Difference between revisions

Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Indicators Sockpuppet investigations (SPI)

• When two users, accounts, or IPs, are said to be "sock puppets", we simply mean that for Wikipedia editing policy purposes, editors may treat their edits as being effectively written or controlled by the same person.
• Wikipedia has a strict policy on forbidden uses of multiple accounts. This page is used to discuss whether a user is likely to have violated that policy, or breached other restrictions (eg blocks or bans) using multiple accounts.
• This page is only to evaluate evidence of misuse of multiple accounts and IPs. All other matters may be removed by the clerks.
• For exceptionally sensitive matters - please contact any clerk, or any checkuser, by e-mail (e.g., admin sock-puppetry, harassment, etc)

Evidence

• Most SPI cases are decided based upon behavioral evidence, that is, the behavior of the accounts, users or IPs concerned.
• The evidence needs to be quite strong, not just a vague belief or assumption.
• Certainty may not be possible; it is usual for a decision to be made based upon an experienced user's judgement of likelihood. If the evidence suggests it is quite (or very) likely that abuse has taken place, then action may be taken.

Checkuser

• In certain cases the Checkuser tool can provide technical information suggesting whether two users are likely to be related, which may help inform a decision. Because this data is usually private, Checkuser evidence may only be requested in very specific circumstances and only very few users (known as "checkusers") have access. Any comments by checkusers will strictly comply with the Foundation's privacy policy.
• CheckUser does not solve cases. It provides additional evidence of a technical nature that can be considered along with behavioral evidence, and may help clarify whether misuse has taken place.

Deciding whether to ask for CheckUser

You should usually open an ordinary case if:

• Behavior or other evidence are sufficient for a conclusive decision and CheckUser is unlikely to be needed
• Canvassing or meatpuppetry is suspected, rather than multiple account abuse (sock-puppetry)
• The "master account" has not edited for many months ("stale")

You may wish to request data from CheckUser if:

• The case matches one of the letters in the CheckUser reasons, the behavioral evidence alone is suggestive but not conclusive, and the case is likely to require evidence from CheckUser for its conclusion.

• Further undetected abuse is reasonably likely.

  The reasons CheckUser may be used, including letter codes, are linked under 'File a request' and on the guidance page.

 A checkuser request can always be added for good cause to an existing case, by anyone, at any time.

Other CheckUser requests

This page may also be used for other CheckUser requests unrelated to sock abuse. For example:

• Collateral damage checks for proposed blocks
• Account ownership checks
• Debates with exceptional concerns over socking or a need to check integrity (highly unusual)
• Purported suicide notes (try IRC first in an emergency)

Other CheckUser requests not requiring archiving: #Other check requests.

Closed cases: Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Closed.

Patrolling and clerking: Any capable user may help on cases or ask to be a trainee clerk (More...)

See Requesting a sock puppet investigation (guidance), and Defending yourself against claims.

If you are already familiar with the instructions, create the case by replacing "CASENAME" with the name of the puppet master, or previous case name in the box below. The name given to the case should be the original case name (if any), or the main name the user is known by (do not add the word "user:").

Eg, if the case name is about User:John Doe or the existing case is at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/JohnDoe, then you should enter Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/JohnDoe in the box.

Then click the button to create a request page (or new section) and follow the instructions there.

• SPI Guidance for full guidance, including full instructions and advice for users opening or responding to an SPI case.
• Clerk and checkuser procedures -- information for Checkusers, SPI clerks and other patrolling users.

• Wikipedia:Sock puppetry.
• Wikipedia:CheckUser (Wikipedia's CheckUser policy)
• Wikipedia:Single purpose account.
• Wikipedia:Call a spade a spade.