How might this work with the current problem of IP leaking the identity of logged in users who are blocked to other users on the same IP?
All the best: Rich Farmbrough 19:58, 1 November 2020 (UTC).[reply]
- I'm not sure this in itself would change anything at all. We'll jave to look into it. Thank you for raising the question. /Johan (WMF) (talk) 22:22, 1 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
So where is the substantial improvement in anti-abuse tools you promised when you announced this unwanted project? Oh wait, you haven't deployed anything. MER-C 20:00, 1 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
- The most recently tool is the new version of the checkuser tool Special:Investigate, which was deployed to the last remaining wikis – including English Wikipedia – in October, although it still requires significant fixes.
- But to be clear: we're also far from implementing masking, and there's more time for tool development before that happens. This update is because the Wikimedia Foundation Legal department clarified that the status quo couldn't remain, which we had previously considered a potential outcome, and we wanted to the let the communities know that as soon as possible. /Johan (WMF) (talk) 22:22, 1 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
- That is about 2% of the work you need to do to mitigate this when complete. Try harder. MER-C 13:43, 2 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
I normally support WMF decisions, but a lack of transparency on why this must take place, and insisting "not if, but how" it will take place, is reminiscent of the so heavily opposed renaming efforts, also forced upon the community as something that must happen in some form or another. ɱ (talk) 20:13, 1 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
- @Ɱ: I can assure you that there is at least one very good and concrete reason why WMF Legal is insisting that we mask IP addresses and this reason also prevents the WMF from discussing it publicly. I know that sounds like an Orwellian ultimatum, but that's the unfortunate reality of the legal situation. This is not analogous to the renaming effort, as it is a legal requirement, not something the WMF actually wants to do. Ryan Kaldari (WMF) (talk) 17:27, 4 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
- Ryan Kaldari (WMF), that is hard to believe when no one will answer the simple question "What law is it that requires that?". Legal codes are already publicly available, so it's not like you'd be revealing confidential information just by saying "1 USC Section 42 requires that." I'm not aware of any laws that make it illegal to display an IP address, but of course the lawyers may know something we don't. Why all the secrecy? They may be prohibited by professional ethics from talking about the advice they give, but the people who receive the advice are not similarly restricted. Seraphimblade Talk to me 23:43, 6 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
- I trust legal's advice on this and thus support that it is required. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 20:15, 7 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]
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