In the spirit of cultivating and overseeing meaningful community discussions on this forum, we have put together some general guidelines to help you understand how we intend to enforce our forum moderation efforts. This is an iterative guide which we expect to incorporate community feedback and our learnings over time.
How Violations of the Forum Communication Guidelines Are Identified
- User Flags: Community members can flag posts or comments that violate our Forum Communication Guidelines. Moderators will then review these flags to assess if they breach the Forum Communication Guidelines (e.g., spam, off-topic, inappropriate content, or harassment).
- Moderator Oversight: Moderators actively monitor discussions and may identify violations directly, using tools like the review queue to track flagged or reported content.
- AI Moderation (Experimental): We may use AI-based tools to detect spam or toxic content, which can auto-flag posts for moderator review.
In all cases, flagged posts or comments will be hidden by the auto-moderator until further notice. When the AI automation is triggered the post is hidden and added to the review queue, where it will remain hidden until the human moderators review the post.
Enforcement Actions for Violations
We follow a progressive escalation ladder to address violations, with actions tailored to the frequency, severity, and context of the behavior. In all instances, users will be notified of their rule violation and the duration of the enforcement action. Below are the options available to moderators:
1. Private Warning via Message:
- For first-time or minor rule violations (e.g., inappropriate tone or off-topic content), moderators will send a private message to the user, explaining the issue, referencing the specific rule, and offering guidance on how to comply.
- Example: A user posting promotional content in the “Watercooler Talk” forum category will be warned to keep discussions non-commercial.
- Users are expected to adjust their behavior within 24 hours after receipt of this warning.
2. Silencing a User:
- For more serious rule violations (e.g. harassment of other community members or posting inappropriate content) or repeated violations or frequent flags after a user’s first warning (e.g., persistent off-topic posting), moderators may silence a user, temporarily preventing them from posting or commenting (e.g., 24 hours to 7 days).
- Example: A user repeatedly posting inflammatory comments may be silenced for 48 hours to cool off.
- Silenced users can still read the forum but cannot interact.
3. Temporary Suspension of Posting Privileges:
- If violations continue after silencing or involve more severe violations (e.g., posting illegal content, hate speech, or spamming), moderators may temporarily suspend the user’s account, preventing login and all activity for a set period (e.g., 7 to 30 days).
- Example: A user who continues spamming links after being silenced may face a 14-day suspension.
- The duration depends on the nature and frequency of the violations.
4. Permanent Ban:
- Users who persistently violate rules or have accumulated excessive flags may be permanently banned from the forum.
- Example: A user posting hate speech after multiple warnings and suspensions may be banned permanently.
- Bans are a last resort, reserved for users who show no intent to abide by our Form Communication Guidelines and thus significantly harm the spirit of open discussion in furtherance of the Internet Computer.
Ban Evasion with Additional Accounts
- Policy: Creating or using additional accounts to circumvent a silence, suspension, or permanent ban is strictly prohibited and may result in a permanent ban from the forum.
- Enforcement Actions:
- Any alternate accounts linked to a banned user will be immediately banned without warning.
- The original user’s ban may be extended or made permanent if not already.
- In cases of persistent evasion, moderators may escalate to platform-level measures, such as IP bans, to prevent further access.
- Example: A banned user creating a new account to post in the forum will have the new account banned, and their original ban may be reinforced with additional restrictions.
Appeals Process
- Users who believe an enforcement action was unfairly applied to them and/or their post can submit an appeal to the moderation team via private message within 7 days of the enforcement action.
- Appeals should include a clear explanation and any relevant context. The moderation team will review and respond promptly.
Our Goal
Our aim is to foster a welcoming and engaging community. Enforcement actions are not meant to punish but to encourage adherence to our guidelines and protect the experience of our community members. We encourage everyone to review our Forum Communication Guidelines (including any updates we’ve made since the original post), FAQ, Constructive Dialogue, and Community Statement and contribute positively to the forum to keep the developer forum thriving. If you have questions about these guidelines, feel free to reach out to a moderator. Let’s keep our discussions respectful and vibrant!