| Revision as of 09:21, 10 August 2015 editSamwalton9 (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Administrators24,203 edits →Basics of usage: If this is a feature it's not enabled here← Previous edit | Revision as of 09:33, 10 August 2015 edit undoSamwalton9 (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Administrators24,203 edits →Recommended uses: Removed an unnecessary sentence (all disallowed edits should be unwanted), and reworded for current consensusNext edit → | ||
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| Also as a general statement, edit filters should be used only to prevent types of edits that substantially all good-faith editors would agree are undesirable, or where a clear consensus has been reached that a specific type of edit should not be allowed. | Also as a general statement, edit filters should be used only to prevent types of edits that substantially all good-faith editors would agree are undesirable, or where a clear consensus has been reached that a specific type of edit should not be allowed. | ||
| Employing the edit filter can have disadvantages. In its "prevent edit" mode, the edit filter is a derogation from the pure "anyone can edit" model, just as page protection or blocking an editor is. However, as with page protection or blocking, the disadvantages are sometimes outweighed by the need to protect the encyclopedia's integrity and the community's well-being. Good judgment in this balancing is essential. | |||
| Except in urgent situations, proposed edit filters should generally be tested (in "log only" mode) for at least several days before being implemented in "warn", "disallow", or "throttle" modes. If the filter is receiving more than a very small percentage of false flags, or is designed to catch ] edits, it should not be placed in 'disallow' or 'throttle' modes. | Except in urgent situations, proposed edit filters should generally be tested (in "log only" mode) for at least several days before being implemented in "warn", "disallow", or "throttle" modes. If the filter is receiving more than a very small percentage of false flags, or is designed to catch ] edits, it should not be placed in 'disallow' or 'throttle' modes. | ||
| Edit filter managers should be familiar with alternatives that might be more appropriate in a given situation. For example, problems on a single page might be better served with ], and problems with page titles or ] should be handled with the ] and ] respectively. Because edit filters check every edit within the relevant space in some way, filters that are tripped only rarely are |
Edit filter managers should be familiar with alternatives that might be more appropriate in a given situation. For example, problems on a single page might be better served with ], and problems with page titles or ] should be handled with the ] and ] respectively. Because edit filters check every edit within the relevant space in some way, filters that are tripped only rarely are discouraged. | ||
| ==Requesting edit filters== | ==Requesting edit filters== | ||
Revision as of 09:33, 10 August 2015
 | The following is a draft working towards a proposal for adoption as a Misplaced Pages policy, guideline, or process. The proposal must not be taken to represent consensus, but is still in development and under discussion, and has not yet reached the process of gathering consensus for adoption. Thus references or links to this page should not describe it as "policy" nor yet even as a proposal. |
Note: This is a work-in-progress draft policy guideline page. In a case involving alleged misuse of edit filters, the Arbitration Committee recommended here that "the community is encouraged to establish a policy or guideline for the use of edit filters, and a process by which existing and proposed edit filters may be judged against these." Interested editors, including but not limited to current edit filter managers, are asked to carefully review this draft page and to discuss and/or edit it to ensure that it is accurate and consistent with existing and prospective best practices. Some portions of the initial draft of this page were drawn from the information/essay page at Misplaced Pages:Edit filter.
Lead
The edit filter is a tool that allows trusted users, referred to as "edit filter managers," to set specific controls intended to address patterns of harmful editing. The edit filter automatically reviews each proposed edit within the scope of a particular filtering instruction, which can be an individual page, a group of pages spanning a topic-area, or the entire encyclopedia. If an inputted edit trips the filter, it implements the prescribed response, which can consist of merely logging the edit, tagging the edit summary, warning the user who proposed the edit, and/or disallowing the edit entirely.
The "Abuse Filter extension" was enabled on the English Misplaced Pages in 2009. The term "edit filter" rather than "abuse filter" is currently used for user-facing elements of the filter as not all the edits it flags are abusive; the terms "abuse filter" and "edit filter" are otherwise synonymous.
The edit filter is an important and powerful tool for combating pattern vandalism, harassment of editors, and other harmful types of editing. It is an integral part of the project's defense mechanisms against abuse, but must be used only by editors who have both the technical knowledge and good judgment to use it correctly.
This policy (or guideline) page provides general guidance for use of the edit filter, as well as assignment and removal of the "edit filter manager" userright. This page does not address technical issues concerning the feature; more technical information concerning operation of the edit filter can be found at (page).
Basics of usage
Edit filters are used to identify potentially harmful edits, signified by certain words or expressions, that correlate with patterns of harmful editing and take the prescribed action, whether it be logging, tagging, warning, or disallowing the edits. Depending on the nature of the abuse pattern being addressed, the filter might be applicable to proposed edits on a particular page or group of pages, or in the entire encyclopedia mainspace, or across the entire project.
In its strongest setting, the edit filter stops edits triggering the filter from being made at all. The user experience is that upon hitting "save," instead of seeing the edited page, the user sees a message that the edit has been disallowed and has not been made. (Flesh out details of other settings per Misplaced Pages:Edit_filter/Documentation to the extent deemed helpful on this introductory/policy page.)
In less severe cases, an edit filter may be used to identify edits that have a high likelihood of being harmful, but with lesser likelihood than for edit filters that prevent edits altogether. When the user hits "save," the edit is saved like an ordinary edit, but a "tag" explaining that the filter was tripped accompanies the edit summary, as an aid to recent-changes patrollers or editors who are keeping an eye on the topic-area.
In still less severe cases, or when the edit filter is being used in test or trial mode, the filter can be designated in "log" mode, which simply creates a log of the questioned edits but does not affect the page output or editor experience.
Recommended uses
Each edit filter should concretely further the aim of preventing vandalism, harassment of editors, or other abuses of the encyclopedia or the community. As a general statement, edit filters should be used in cases of persistently or severely improper edits, rather than for isolated or temporary issues of lesser severity.
Also as a general statement, edit filters should be used only to prevent types of edits that substantially all good-faith editors would agree are undesirable, or where a clear consensus has been reached that a specific type of edit should not be allowed.
Except in urgent situations, proposed edit filters should generally be tested (in "log only" mode) for at least several days before being implemented in "warn", "disallow", or "throttle" modes. If the filter is receiving more than a very small percentage of false flags, or is designed to catch good faith edits, it should not be placed in 'disallow' or 'throttle' modes.
Edit filter managers should be familiar with alternatives that might be more appropriate in a given situation. For example, problems on a single page might be better served with page protection, and problems with page titles or link spam should be handled with the title blacklist and spam blacklist respectively. Because edit filters check every edit within the relevant space in some way, filters that are tripped only rarely are discouraged.
Requesting edit filters
An editor who believes an edit filter would be useful in combating a particular type of harmful edit may suggest that one be created by posting at Misplaced Pages:Edit filter/Requested. Edit filter managers will monitor this page and implement an edit filter when a good case for one is made. Where there is disagreement over whether a filter is desirable, edit filter managers will discuss the matter to arrive at a consensus.
If it would not be desirable to discuss the need for a given edit filter on-wiki, such as where the purpose of the filter is to combat harassment by an abusive banned user, an alternative is for the editor to raise the issue at (is there an off-wiki venue? should there be?).
The desirability of an edit filter may also emerge from a discussion on a noticeboard, such as WP:AN or WP:ANI.
Reviewing edit filters and troubleshooting
Just as with other forms of edit-control such as page protection or rangeblocks, edit filters should be monitored regularly to ensure that they are still necessary and are working as intended.
Each edit filter should be reviewed no less than every (time interval) to identify filters that are no longer useful. In the first instance, the editor who created or implemented the filter should take responsibility for monitoring its performance and the continued need for its use, but anyone else is also free to do so.
In addition to considering whether a given edit filter is still needed, the review process should also consider whether the parameters of the filter should be modified. Over time, editing patterns may change or abusive users may be able to evade the filter, requiring adjustment of the parameters or specific instructions for that filter.
If an editor (who need not be an edit filter manager) believes that an existing edit filter is unnecessary, is preventing good edits, or is otherwise problematic, he or she should raise the concern directly with the edit filter manager who enabled the filter. If the two of them disagree, the issue can be raised on (ANI? or another appropriate noticeboard).
(Name of noticeboard-same as above) has also been established as a venue for discussing potential improvements, modifications, or removals of edit filters. Good judgment should be used in deciding what issues should be discussed on that page. For example, when an edit filter has been designed to combat abusive or harassing behavior by a specific banned user, the canons of denying recognition and not providing specifics about how to damage Misplaced Pages will often counsel against public discussion of anti-abuse mechanisms that can be read by the abuser. However, that concern might be outweighed in a given case if the edit filter is blocking legitimate edits by users in good standing.
Where security or privacy reasons suggest that issues concerning a given edit filter should not be discussed on-wiki, an alternative venue is (again, is there one? should there be?}.
Public versus private filters
While filters are by default publicly viewable, some are set to be private. For all filters, including those hidden from public view, a brief, general summary of what the rule targets will be available, and displayed in the log, the list of active filters, and in any error messages generated by the filter. Filters should be hidden only where necessary, such as in long-term abuse cases where the abusive banned user could review a public filter and use the knowledge in circumventing it.
Issues concerning private filters may be raised at (the off-wiki venue, if any).
User right
Only members of the "edit filter manager" group are allowed to modify the filters and view hidden filters.
Any administrator may assign the userright to an editor. This may include the administrator himself or herself.
(Please discuss on talkpage whether to bisect the edit filter manager userright into "edit-filter-reader" and "edit-filter-editor" userrights, as proposed here.)
However, the userright may be assigned only to experienced editors with the technical qualifications to work with edit filters correctly and safely. Assignment of the userright to non-administrators is highly restricted; they may be assigned the userright only when they have a clear and demonstrated need for it, as well as demonstrated technical competence in using it. Requests for assignment of the group to non-administrators can be made at Misplaced Pages talk:Edit filter, where a discussion will be held, usually for about one week, resulting in a consensus or lack of consensus to grant the permission.
Non-administrators, and administrators wishing to become more familiar with edit-filter-related issues, should consider helping out at requested edit filters and troubleshooting at false positives to help demonstrate these skills.
If an edit filter manager is misusing the userright, intentionally or otherwise, the concern should be raised with him or her directly. If dialog does not resolve the issue, a request for removal of the userright may be made at (specify noticeboard; see discussion here).
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