CheckUser

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Check user
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CheckUser is an interface that allows CheckUsers and Stewards to look up and find the IP addresses of editors (to investigate claims of sockpuppetry), find all Usernames used by a certain IP address, and find all edits made by a certain IP address on all accounts or while logged out.

Documentation

Contacting a CheckUser

The best way to contact a CheckUser is to leave a notice on the Stewards' noticeboard since Stewards have access to the CheckUser tools and most users with elevated permissions check the noticeboard.

CheckUser Tools

CheckUser is an interface for users with the Check users permission. By using it, users are able to:

  • Determine from which IPs a user has edited or done a logged action or password reset on the Miraheze wiki;
  • Determine the edits, logged actions and password resets on the Miraheze wiki of a specific IP (even when logged in);
  • Determine whether the user being checked has sent an email using MediaWiki interface to some other user. The time of the event is logged, the destination email address and user ID are obscured.

This information is only stored for a short period (3 months), so edits made prior to that will not be shown via CheckUser.

A log is kept of who has made which queries with the tool. This log is available to those with the View the checkuser log permission:

Policy


Use of the tool

The tool is to be used to fight vandalism, to check for sockpuppet abuse, and to limit disruption of the project. It must be used only to prevent damage to any Miraheze wiki or the community.

The tool should not be used to apply pressure on editors; or as a threat against another editor in a content dispute. A valid reason to lookup user information must be stated explicitly. Note that alternative accounts are not forbidden, so long as they are not used in violation of the policies.

Notification to the account that is checked is permitted but is not mandatory. Similarly, notification of the check to the community is not mandatory, but may be done subject to the provisions of the privacy policy.

Some wikis allow an editor's IPs to be checked upon their request if, for example, there is a need to provide evidence of innocence against a sockpuppet allegation; note, however, that requesting a CheckUser in these circumstances is sometimes part of the attempt to disrupt.

Because Miraheze users may accidentally create accounts on local wikis just by visiting the local wiki, CheckUsers must never violate the Privacy Policy or the guidelines above.

Permission

Permission is granted by adding users to the Check users group. In order for the user group to be granted, the appointment criteria for election as a Steward must be met. Instead, if you need to contact a CheckUser, please see the above section.

Much like Oversight, local CheckUsers may be appointed on wikis by their local community following a local election that fulfills all the requirements for steward. Stewards also require there always be a second locally appointed CheckUser in order to balance each other out. Should there ever only be one CheckUser instead of two, the local community must seek a replacement for the other CheckUser immediately and that candidate must also fulfil all requirements laid out in this section. Should they fail to find a replacement, the remaining CheckUser will lose their flag. All elections for this right will be under high scrutiny and supervision by Stewards to ensure compliance with all global policies.