- This policy is a work in progress, feel free to make changes, for major changes, consider discussing them first on the talk page. This proposed policy currently is not in effect, it is still in progress.
Semi-protection[]
When should it be used?[]
Semi-protection should be considered if it is the only reasonable option left to deal with vandalism on a page or to stop a banned or blocked user from editing it.
When should it not be used?[]
Semi-protection should not be used:
- As a pre-emptive measure against vandalism before any vandalism has occurred;
- As a response to regular content disputes, since it may restrict some editors and not others (see the protection policy for how to deal with this);
- In the case of a static IP vandal hitting a page (blocking is preferable to semi-protection);
- To prohibit anonymous editing in general.
Full protection[]
When should it be used?[]
- Protecting high visibility pages such as the Main Page from vandalism.
- Maintaining the integrity of the site's logo, and key copyright and license pages (for legal reasons).
- Protecting certain "system administration" pages. This includes many editorial templates, such as deletion notices and stub templates.
- Protecting the MediaWiki namespace and pages transcluded to it. These pages affect the system interface for all users.
- User talk pages and their subpages that are subject to repeated vandalism, following a user's blocking (note the fact that blocked users can still edit their own user talk pages).
How?[]
- Do not edit or revert a temporarily protected page, except to add a protected page notice, or a link to a disclaimer about the current state of an article, unless there is widespread agreement that the page was protected in violation of these policies.
- Do not protect a page you are involved in an edit dispute over.
- Add an appropriate protection template (e.g. {{protected}} or {{semiprotect}}) to the top of the temporarily protected page and make mention of the protection in the edit summary. If protecting a template, place the notice inside tags so that it does not show up when the template is transcluded. Alternatively, the tag can go on the template's talk page.
- List pages you protect on Wikipedia:Protected page
- Consider encouraging a resolution between the disputing parties
- Remove {{protected}} from the top of an unprotected page and make mention of the removal in the edit summary
Editing protected pages[]
Administrators should be cautious about editing protected pages and do so in accordance with consensus and any specific guidelines on the subject. In most cases, administrators should first raise the issue on the relevant talk page, unless a case of obvious trolling and/or revert warring, or blatantly unsuitable content.