Hello, everyone.
I'm writing with information about the Ombuds Commission (OC), the small
group of volunteers who investigate complaints about violations of the
privacy policy, and in particular concerning the use of CheckUser and
Oversight tools, on any Wikimedia project for the Board of Trustees. I
apologize for the length of the announcement. :)
The application period for new commissioners for 2023 recently closed. The
Wikimedia Foundation is extremely grateful to the many experienced and
insightful volunteers who offered to assist with this work.
This year’s OC will consist of ten members, with a one-member advisory team
who will guide the new commission and also, if necessary, fill in in the
event that the OC is unable to act due to incapacity or recusal.
I am pleased to announce the composition of the 2023 OC:
Regular membersAGK <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=AGK>
AGK has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2008. He is primarily active
on English Wikipedia, where he has been an administrator, Checkuser, and
Oversighter and has served as an Arbitrator. AGK served on the Ombuds
Commission in 2020 and 2021. AGK has been appointed for a 2-year term on
the Ombuds Commission.
Ameisenigel <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Ameisenigel>
Ameisenigel has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2015. He is primarily
active on German Wikipedia, where he served as an Arbitrator from 2020 to
2022, and on Wikidata, where he is an administrator. He is also active as a
translation admin in several projects. Ameisenigel speaks German and
English. He has been on the Ombuds Commission since 2021 and has been
appointed for a 1-year term this year.
Bennylin <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Bennylin>
Bennylin has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2004. He's primarily
active on Indonesian and Javanese Wikiprojects, where he's sysop in 6 of
them, Checkuser in Indonesian Wikipedia, bureaucrat in Indonesian
Wiktionary, and also active in Commons, Meta, Wikidata, and MediaWiki. He
has previously served as a global Steward. He speaks Indonesian, English,
Javanese, Chinese and some Spanish. This is Bennylin's first year on the
Ombuds Commission and he has been appointed for a 2-year term.
Daniuu <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Daniuu>
Daniuu has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2019. They are primarily
active on Dutch Wikipedia, where they are a sysop and member of the
Arbitration Committee. They are also a global sysop and focus on
counter-vandalism work. Daniuu speaks Dutch and English. This is Daniuu's
first year on the Ombuds Commission and they have been appointed for a
2-year term.
Emufarmers <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Emufarmers>
Emufarmers has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2005. He is a
Metapedian who primarily edits the English Wikipedia; he is also a
bureaucrat and sysop on MediaWiki.org, and has provided software support to
many third-party, non-Wikimedia wikis over the years. He has served as a
VRTS administrator since 2015. He served on the Ombuds Commission from
2019-2021. He has been appointed for a one-year term on the Ombuds
Commission.
Faendalimas <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Faendalimas>
Scott Thomson, user:Faendalimas, has been editing Wikimedia projects since
2006. Based in Brazil, he is a taxonomist and evolutionary biologist and
his main editing interest is reptiles and amphibians. He is most active on
WikiSpecies, where he is a bureaucrat, Checkuser, and administrator.
Faendalimas speaks Portuguese and English. He has served on the Ombuds
Commission since 2021 and has been appointed for a one-year term this year.
JJMC89 <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=JJMC89>
JJMC89 has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2015. He is
primarily active on the English Wikipedia, where he has more than 300,000
edits and is an administrator and bot operator, and Commons. He also serves
as a tool administrator on UTRS. He speaks English. He has been on the
Ombuds Commission since 2021 and has been appointed for a 1-year term this
year.
MdsShakil <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=MdsShakil>
MdsShakil has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2019. He is
active on Bengali Wikipedia, Bengali Wikibooks, Wikidata and Commons. He is
an administrator on Bengali Wikibooks and serves as a global renamer and
global rollbacker. He speaks Bengali and English. This is MdsShakil's first
year on the Ombuds Commission and he has been appointed for a 2-year term.
Minorax <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Minorax>
Minorax has been active on Wikimedia projects since 2019. They are a
Metapedian who is active on a large number of projects, including Commons,
where they have over 400,000 edits, English Wikipedia, and Meta, where they
are a Checkuser. They are also a global sysop. Minorax speaks English and
Chinese. This is Minorax's first year on the Ombuds Commission and they
have been appointed for a 2-year term.
Renvoy <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Renvoy>
Renvoy has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2014. He is primarily
active on Ukrainian Wikipedia and Wikidata. He is an administrator on
Ukrainian Wikibooks and serves as a global rollbacker. Renvoy speaks
Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Polish. This is Renvoy's first year on the
Ombuds Commission and he has been appointed for a 1-year term.
Advisory memberZabe <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Zabe>
Zabe has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2018. They primarily
edit Wikidata and Mediawiki, where they are an administrator. In addition,
Zabe works on the Mediawiki software. Zabe speaks German and English. Zabe
has been on the Ombuds Commission since 2022. The advisory member term
length is one year.
Steward-Observer
New in 2023, we are appointing a Steward-Observer to serve as a liaison
between the Ombuds Commission and the Stewards. The Steward-Observer is a
non-voting, advisory role. The Steward-Observer was nominated by the
Stewards and is appointed by the Wikimedia Foundation to a one-year term.
This year's Steward-Observer is…
Vermont <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Vermont>
Vermont (they/them) has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2016.
They have been a steward since February 2022, and previously a global sysop
and rollbacker. Vermont is an administrator and checkuser on Meta-Wiki and
the Simple English Wikipedia, and formerly volunteered on the UCoC Phase 2
and Revisions drafting committees.
Departing members
Please join me in thanking the following volunteers who are leaving OC, who
have given substantially of their time to serve the commission:
Érico <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=%C3%89rico
>
Érico has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2010. He edits primarily on
Portuguese Wikipedia, where he is a bureaucrat, checkuser, and
administrator, and Commons, where he is an administrator. He has, in the
past, also served as an oversighter and a global sysop. He has created
about 1,700 new articles and has made over 270,000 edits in several
projects. Érico can communicate in Portuguese and English. 2022 was Érico's
first year on the Ombuds Commission.
Galahad <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Galahad>
Carlos, currently editing as user:Galahad, has been contributing to
Wikimedia Projects since 2009. He is a member of Wikimedia Venezuela and a
founding member of Wikimedia Small Projects User Group. He primarily
contributes to Spanish-language projects including Spanish Wikipedia and
Spanish Wikivoyage. He has been an administrator and bureaucrat of Spanish
Wikivoyage since 2013. He speaks Spanish and English. He has served on the
Ombuds Commission since 2019.
Infinite0694 <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Infinite0694>
Infinite0694 has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2011. She
edits primarily on Japanese Wikipedia, where she is a bureaucrat,
administrator, Oversighter, and Checkuser, as well as on Meta, where she is
an administrator. Infinite0694 speaks Japanese, English, and German. 2022
was Infinite0694's first year on the Ombuds Commission.
Mykola7 <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Mykola7>
Mykola7 has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2018. He is
primarily active on Ukranian Wikipedia, where he is an administrator and
Checkuser. He speaks Ukranian, Russian, and English. 2022 was Mykola7's
first year on the Ombuds Commission.
Olugold <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Olugold>
Olugold has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2020. She is a
librarian and a member of the Igbo Wikimedia User Group. She edits
primarily on English Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Igbo Wikipedia. She speaks
English, Hausa, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin English. 2022 was Olugold's first
year on the Ombuds Commission.
Udehb <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Udehb>
Udehb has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2018. He edits
primarily on Wikidata and is also active in the movement, including
organizing Wikidata Justice Nigeria
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikidata_Justice_Nigeria>. He is a member
of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group and serves as the IG-WIKIDATA-HUB
coordinator, of which he is the founder. Udehb speaks Igbo and English.
2022 was Udehb's first year on the Ombuds Commission.
--
Karen Brown
Trust & Safety Specialist
Wikimedia Foundation
kbrown@wikimedia.org
I'm writing with information about the Ombuds Commission (OC), the small
group of volunteers who investigate complaints about violations of the
privacy policy, and in particular concerning the use of CheckUser and
Oversight tools, on any Wikimedia project for the Board of Trustees. I
apologize for the length of the announcement. :)
The application period for new commissioners for 2023 recently closed. The
Wikimedia Foundation is extremely grateful to the many experienced and
insightful volunteers who offered to assist with this work.
This year’s OC will consist of ten members, with a one-member advisory team
who will guide the new commission and also, if necessary, fill in in the
event that the OC is unable to act due to incapacity or recusal.
I am pleased to announce the composition of the 2023 OC:
Regular membersAGK <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=AGK>
AGK has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2008. He is primarily active
on English Wikipedia, where he has been an administrator, Checkuser, and
Oversighter and has served as an Arbitrator. AGK served on the Ombuds
Commission in 2020 and 2021. AGK has been appointed for a 2-year term on
the Ombuds Commission.
Ameisenigel <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Ameisenigel>
Ameisenigel has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2015. He is primarily
active on German Wikipedia, where he served as an Arbitrator from 2020 to
2022, and on Wikidata, where he is an administrator. He is also active as a
translation admin in several projects. Ameisenigel speaks German and
English. He has been on the Ombuds Commission since 2021 and has been
appointed for a 1-year term this year.
Bennylin <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Bennylin>
Bennylin has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2004. He's primarily
active on Indonesian and Javanese Wikiprojects, where he's sysop in 6 of
them, Checkuser in Indonesian Wikipedia, bureaucrat in Indonesian
Wiktionary, and also active in Commons, Meta, Wikidata, and MediaWiki. He
has previously served as a global Steward. He speaks Indonesian, English,
Javanese, Chinese and some Spanish. This is Bennylin's first year on the
Ombuds Commission and he has been appointed for a 2-year term.
Daniuu <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Daniuu>
Daniuu has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2019. They are primarily
active on Dutch Wikipedia, where they are a sysop and member of the
Arbitration Committee. They are also a global sysop and focus on
counter-vandalism work. Daniuu speaks Dutch and English. This is Daniuu's
first year on the Ombuds Commission and they have been appointed for a
2-year term.
Emufarmers <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Emufarmers>
Emufarmers has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2005. He is a
Metapedian who primarily edits the English Wikipedia; he is also a
bureaucrat and sysop on MediaWiki.org, and has provided software support to
many third-party, non-Wikimedia wikis over the years. He has served as a
VRTS administrator since 2015. He served on the Ombuds Commission from
2019-2021. He has been appointed for a one-year term on the Ombuds
Commission.
Faendalimas <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Faendalimas>
Scott Thomson, user:Faendalimas, has been editing Wikimedia projects since
2006. Based in Brazil, he is a taxonomist and evolutionary biologist and
his main editing interest is reptiles and amphibians. He is most active on
WikiSpecies, where he is a bureaucrat, Checkuser, and administrator.
Faendalimas speaks Portuguese and English. He has served on the Ombuds
Commission since 2021 and has been appointed for a one-year term this year.
JJMC89 <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=JJMC89>
JJMC89 has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2015. He is
primarily active on the English Wikipedia, where he has more than 300,000
edits and is an administrator and bot operator, and Commons. He also serves
as a tool administrator on UTRS. He speaks English. He has been on the
Ombuds Commission since 2021 and has been appointed for a 1-year term this
year.
MdsShakil <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=MdsShakil>
MdsShakil has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2019. He is
active on Bengali Wikipedia, Bengali Wikibooks, Wikidata and Commons. He is
an administrator on Bengali Wikibooks and serves as a global renamer and
global rollbacker. He speaks Bengali and English. This is MdsShakil's first
year on the Ombuds Commission and he has been appointed for a 2-year term.
Minorax <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Minorax>
Minorax has been active on Wikimedia projects since 2019. They are a
Metapedian who is active on a large number of projects, including Commons,
where they have over 400,000 edits, English Wikipedia, and Meta, where they
are a Checkuser. They are also a global sysop. Minorax speaks English and
Chinese. This is Minorax's first year on the Ombuds Commission and they
have been appointed for a 2-year term.
Renvoy <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Renvoy>
Renvoy has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2014. He is primarily
active on Ukrainian Wikipedia and Wikidata. He is an administrator on
Ukrainian Wikibooks and serves as a global rollbacker. Renvoy speaks
Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Polish. This is Renvoy's first year on the
Ombuds Commission and he has been appointed for a 1-year term.
Advisory memberZabe <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Zabe>
Zabe has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2018. They primarily
edit Wikidata and Mediawiki, where they are an administrator. In addition,
Zabe works on the Mediawiki software. Zabe speaks German and English. Zabe
has been on the Ombuds Commission since 2022. The advisory member term
length is one year.
Steward-Observer
New in 2023, we are appointing a Steward-Observer to serve as a liaison
between the Ombuds Commission and the Stewards. The Steward-Observer is a
non-voting, advisory role. The Steward-Observer was nominated by the
Stewards and is appointed by the Wikimedia Foundation to a one-year term.
This year's Steward-Observer is…
Vermont <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Vermont>
Vermont (they/them) has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2016.
They have been a steward since February 2022, and previously a global sysop
and rollbacker. Vermont is an administrator and checkuser on Meta-Wiki and
the Simple English Wikipedia, and formerly volunteered on the UCoC Phase 2
and Revisions drafting committees.
Departing members
Please join me in thanking the following volunteers who are leaving OC, who
have given substantially of their time to serve the commission:
Érico <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=%C3%89rico
>
Érico has been editing Wikimedia projects since 2010. He edits primarily on
Portuguese Wikipedia, where he is a bureaucrat, checkuser, and
administrator, and Commons, where he is an administrator. He has, in the
past, also served as an oversighter and a global sysop. He has created
about 1,700 new articles and has made over 270,000 edits in several
projects. Érico can communicate in Portuguese and English. 2022 was Érico's
first year on the Ombuds Commission.
Galahad <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Galahad>
Carlos, currently editing as user:Galahad, has been contributing to
Wikimedia Projects since 2009. He is a member of Wikimedia Venezuela and a
founding member of Wikimedia Small Projects User Group. He primarily
contributes to Spanish-language projects including Spanish Wikipedia and
Spanish Wikivoyage. He has been an administrator and bureaucrat of Spanish
Wikivoyage since 2013. He speaks Spanish and English. He has served on the
Ombuds Commission since 2019.
Infinite0694 <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Infinite0694>
Infinite0694 has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2011. She
edits primarily on Japanese Wikipedia, where she is a bureaucrat,
administrator, Oversighter, and Checkuser, as well as on Meta, where she is
an administrator. Infinite0694 speaks Japanese, English, and German. 2022
was Infinite0694's first year on the Ombuds Commission.
Mykola7 <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Mykola7>
Mykola7 has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2018. He is
primarily active on Ukranian Wikipedia, where he is an administrator and
Checkuser. He speaks Ukranian, Russian, and English. 2022 was Mykola7's
first year on the Ombuds Commission.
Olugold <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Olugold>
Olugold has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2020. She is a
librarian and a member of the Igbo Wikimedia User Group. She edits
primarily on English Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Igbo Wikipedia. She speaks
English, Hausa, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin English. 2022 was Olugold's first
year on the Ombuds Commission.
Udehb <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAuth?target=Udehb>
Udehb has been contributing to Wikimedia projects since 2018. He edits
primarily on Wikidata and is also active in the movement, including
organizing Wikidata Justice Nigeria
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikidata_Justice_Nigeria>. He is a member
of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group and serves as the IG-WIKIDATA-HUB
coordinator, of which he is the founder. Udehb speaks Igbo and English.
2022 was Udehb's first year on the Ombuds Commission.
--
Karen Brown
Trust & Safety Specialist
Wikimedia Foundation
kbrown@wikimedia.org