UDWiki:Administration/Policy Discussion/Prohibit Sysop Fraud

A user's Vandal Data record is arguably their most important archive on this wiki. An improperly maintained record could lead to a user being banned contrary to the standard escalation process of this wiki.

To prevent distortion (users de-escalating themselves for example) we already have this archive protected, meaning only sysops can edit it. However there have been multiple cases of sysops acting other than in accordance with the de-escalations policy. This leaves some users with inaccurate or simply false vandal data records. This can either be a positive distortion (de-escalations early or when ineligible) or a negative distortion (failing to accurately update a record correctly) depending on the whim or bias of the acting sysop.

To prevent this fraudulent practice amongst our sysops we will institute a new sanction for sysops who cause the vandal data archive to be inaccurate.

Sysops that:

• alter the vandal data archive so that records are other than completely accurate
• alter their own vandal data, or that of their alts
• alter the vandal data of a user contrary to that user's will

will be guilty of Fraudulent Misconduct. No vote will be needed, just the proof (such as edit histories, contribution records etc.) being presented in a misconduct case will be sufficient to prove guilt of this offence.

This will obviously not be applicable in the case of recording legitimate escalations as applied through the current vandal banning system.

Failing to ensure that the vandal data archive is accurate, either through apathy or ignorance is a gross breach of the trust placed in the sysop, such an act harms the whole community. A sysop that is proven guilty of Fraudulent Misconduct will be demoted immediately and be ineligible for promotion for a period of six months from their demotion. There is no 'statute of limitations' concerning this sanction, cases should be brought regardless of the time taken to notice such fraud.

This policy will be retroactively applicable.