Commons:Checkusers

This page explains the role of checkuser (sometimes called "CU") on Wikimedia Commons.

• If you want to request checkuser help, please post at Commons:Requests for checkuser or alternatively make a private request to any checkuser by email. In an emergency, and if no Commons checkuser is immediately available, please contact a steward.

There are currently 8 checkusers on Commons.

Checkusers as of May 2013 [+/−]

Number of checkusers: 8

Gmaxwell, en Herbythyme, en, fr-2, es-1, it-1 Jameslwoodward, en, fr-1 Magister Mathematicae, es, en, pt-1, fr-1, it-1 Mardetanha, fa, az, en-3, tr-2, ar-1 (steward) Martin H., de, en-2 Tiptoety, en (oversighter) Trijnstel, nl, en-4, de-1, fr-1 (steward)

What is a checkuser?

A sample CheckUser log. Only users with the 'checkuser-log' permission can see the logs.

Checkusers are highly-trusted administrators with the technical ability to see private data for a user, such as their IP address. This is done to determine whether a user is misusing multiple accounts (multiple undisclosed accounts all controlled by the same editor that are used for fraudulent, deceptive, or otherwise disruptive purposes are normally referred to as sockpuppets).

The tools are typically used to fight vandalism, to check for sockpuppet abuse, and to limit disruption of the project. The use of the checkuser tools and release of the private data is limited by the Meta CheckUser policy, the WMF Privacy policy and the WMF access to nonpublic data policy. CheckUser actions are logged, but for privacy reasons the logs are only visible to other Checkusers. Because of this, Commons must always have no fewer than two checkusers, for mutual accountability.

How do I become a checkuser?

First, read Commons:Checkusers/Howto.

When you are ready, make your request using the box below, replacing Username with your own user name.

For greater visibility, all requests made here are transcluded onto the central Commons:Requests and votes page.

Voting

Please note any registered user may vote here although those who have few or no previous edits may not be fully counted. It is preferable if you give reasons both for  Support votes or  Oppose ones as this will help the closing bureaucrat in their decision. Greater weight is given to argument, with supporting evidence if needed, than to a simple vote.

Requests for CheckUser

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When complete, pages listed here should be archived to Commons:Checkusers/Archive.

• Please read Commons:Checkusers before posting or voting here. Any logged in user may vote although those who have few or no previous edits may not be fully counted.

Current Checkusers

• For an automated list of current checkusers, see Special:Listusers/checkuser.
• To edit the annotated list of checkusers, click here.

See also

• Commons:User access levels
• Meta:CheckUser policy
• Check user statistics