Commons:Blocking policy

This page is considered an official policy on Wikimedia Commons.

It has wide acceptance among editors and is considered a standard that everyone must follow. Except for minor edits (such as fixing typos, or bringing information up to date), please make use of the discussion page to propose changes to this policy.

Administrators are given the ability to administer blocks to users when appropriate. A blocked user is restricted from editing and uploading files, among other things. In a general sense, blocks are a last resort for behaviour that has the potential to damage the Commons or disrupt its collegial atmosphere. In this way, blocking is designed to be a preventative measure and not a punitive one; "cool-down" blocks are not condoned.

When in doubt

As a rule of thumb, when in doubt, do not block; instead, consult other administrators for advice. After placing a block that may be controversial, it is a good idea to make a note of the block at the administrators' noticeboard for peer review.

Use

Blocks may be applied for a number of reasons. The more common of these are detailed below:

• Vandalism. Disruptive editing or uploading may result in a block. For example:
  • Insertion of gratuitous vulgarity
  • Insertion of deliberately false information (e.g. fake image sources)
• Edit warring.
• Copyright violations. Repeated uploading of inappropriately licensed media is grounds for blocking an account. Clear explanations and warnings about Commons policy should be engaged in before and after blocking a user for license problems.
• Gross incivility. An account may be blocked for a sexist, racist, ethnic, and religious slur or a criticism of the intelligence, genetics, moral character, etc., of an editor or editors. Well-founded, temperate criticism of behavior, supported by diffs, on Administrators' noticeboards, Administrators/Requests and similar pages is permitted and necessary, but is discouraged elsewhere, e.g., Featured picture candidates. Accounts and IP addresses which are used primarily to create a hostile environment for another user may be blocked. Please see Civility and its equivalents in other languages for further explanation and examples.
• Unauthorized or non-responsive bot accounts. Bot accounts not authorized by the Commons community are not allowed to operate on Wikimedia Commons, and questionable bot-like editing that cannot be explained by the user should be blocked until discussion takes place. Bot proposals can be discussed at Commons:Bots or Commons:Village pump. Bots may not be operated on Commons without advance permission (which can be sought at Commons:Bots/Requests).
• Approved bot accounts that are temporarily malfunctioning. This to prevent additional damage until the bot-owner can address the problem.
• Inappropriate usernames.
• Evasion of blocks. An administrator may reset the block of a user who intentionally evades a block, and may extend the duration of the block if the user engages in further blockable behaviour while evading the block. User accounts or IP addresses used to evade a block may and should also be blocked.

Instructions for administrators

Repeated copyright violations (user appears to have no understanding of source/licensing requirements, or puts false licenses):

1. Write the user a strongly-worded warning, with links to Commons:Licensing and Commons:Help desk. If it appears that they speak a different language to you (Babel boxes, writing captions in a different language, interwiki link to a different language Wikipedia), find an administrator who speaks that language and ask them to translate your message or deal with that user. At a minimum, the user should correct their existing uploads and agree to seek advice before uploading any more files that they are unsure about.
2. On the very next occasion that they upload something, if they have made no attempt to respond to the admin message, correct their mistakes or seek help, block them. Blocking is most effective if it catches the user in the act. Write a note saying as much on their talk page. Blocked users can edit their own talk page, including adding {{Unblock}} to request unblocking, as well as email the blocking administrator via Special:EmailUser. Do not block talk page and email access without evidence of recent abuse of these privileges.
3. If the user continues the behavior once the block expires, repeat as above. If the user repeatedly continues the same behaviour, a ban might be justified. Before doing so, please be sure to try other options to change their behaviour. When in doubt, do not block; instead, consult other administrators for further advice.

Optionally you can put {{Blocked user}} (or a similarly appropriate template) on the user page of indefinitely blocked users.

See also

• Category:User block templates