Wikipedia:Access to nonpublic information

This is an information page.

It is not an encyclopedic article, nor one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines; rather, its purpose is to explain certain aspects of Wikipedia's norms, customs, technicalities, or practices. It may reflect differing levels of consensus and vetting.

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In a few contexts, Wikipedia contributors are required to sign the Wikimedia Foundation's non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for nonpublic information. This page describes those situations and the process involved.

Background

The current "m:Access to nonpublic personal data policy" was approved by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees on 6 November 2018. It replaced the 2014 "Access to nonpublic information policy" which replaced the 2007 "Access to nonpublic data policy". The access to nonpublic personal data policy requires that any individual who has access to certain non-public data sign the Wikimedia Foundation's confidentiality agreement for nonpublic information along with meeting age and identification requirements.

Scope

On the English Wikipedia, all users who wish to be arbitrators, CheckUsers, Oversighters or users involved in the request-an-account process are required to sign the NDA with the Wikimedia Foundation.

Outside the English Wikipedia, all users who wish to be stewards and others who will have access to nonpublic information must also sign the NDA. Members of the volunteer response team are required to sign an NDA specific to that group's requirements.

Individuals serving on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, system administrators or other Wikimedia Foundation roles are also required to sign agreements specific to their roles with the Wikimedia Foundation.

Procedure

At Meta-Wiki, there is a noticeboard that designated individuals working for the Wikimedia Foundation update. A steward will not grant CheckUser or Oversight permissions without the account being listed at the noticeboard.

Steps to signing the agreement

The official instructions for signing the confidentiality agreement are maintained and available in multiple languages on Meta-Wiki.

Data retention

The signatures are collected and stored in Legalpad on Wikimedia's Phabricator installation.