View source for Wikipedia:Requests for oversight

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{{caution|<center>'''The fastest way to request oversight is to {{big|<u>[[Special:EmailUser/Oversight|email the oversight team]]</u>.}}'''</center>}}
{{nutshell|1=Suppression removes edits which breach privacy or defame somebody. You may request it by:

* [[Special:Emailuser/Oversight|using this form]], if you have a Wikipedia account with email enabled, to send an internal message ([[Special:Preferences|click here to enable internal messages]]).
* composing an email to <font color="#505050"><u>{{nowrap|{{Oversight email}}}}</u></font>
* contacting an oversighter personally and directly (using IRC or some other method of contact).}}

Read on for information on when to request suppression, how to request it, and what information the oversighter will need from you.

You must {{!xt|'''never''' draw attention to suppressible material and links}} on Wikipedia or other public venues. Requests are only accepted by email or other private methods.
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== When will we suppress? ==
{{anchor|when|When to request suppression}}

We suppress edits that breach somebody's privacy or defame somebody. We only suppress if they do this in such a way that the edit should not be visible even to Wikipedia administrators; otherwise, [[Wikipedia:REVDEL|Revision Deletion (RevDel)]] may be used.

Wikipedia has a strict [[m:Privacy policy|privacy policy]]  that means we only allow an edit, once it is suppressed, to be viewed by a small, vetted, and identified team of highly-trusted users (the "Oversighters"). Please see [[Wikipedia:Oversight]] for more information on the Oversight/suppression system and team members.

We usually suppress an edit or other information on Wikipedia if it contains the following types of information:

#'''Non-public personal information about a real individual.''' This could be private information about you or others.<p>This includes a telephone number, an address or location, the name of a workplace or school, other online and offline identities, accidentally disclosed IP addresses, and (subject to oversighter judgment) other information of an identifying nature.
#'''Clearly private, personal, or non-public information.'''<p>We suppress some highly sensitive and potentially harmful non-public information, even if it does not strictly help "identify" the person. In the past, we have suppressed content such as the self-disclosure of age or date of birth of a minor, or an individual's medical information. This is subject to oversighter discretion.
#'''Clearly (or probably) libelous posts''' when we have no editorial need to keep the revision.
#'''Gross vandalism''' that we would delete if usual deletion tools could deal with it. This includes grossly improper user names. (This is an interim policy and subject to change.)
#'''Other reasons:''' We are not likely to make other exceptions, but reserve the right to do so.<!-- removal of this item is fine if this may lead to harm--><p>An example of one instance where an edit was exceptionally suppressed was an edit made as part of a real-world stalking campaign, where the edit had no project value, and where no lesser remedy was sufficient. Suppression may also be used for copyright violations upon instruction of Wikimedia Foundation counsel.

We will use our best judgement in applying these criteria to your request. If we deny your request, you can instead request [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|speedy deletion]] or [[WP:REVDEL|revision deletion]]. These processes remove content from public view and leave it visible only to administrators; this is adequate for many cases, and means your content is unavailable to almost every Wikipedia reader. Appeal of our decisions is only to the [[Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee|Arbitration Committee]].

== What information do we need? ==

{{anchor|info|We need the following information if you wish to request suppression|We need the following information if you wish to request suppression:}}

You and anybody may request suppression at any time, but we will require the following information. Please ensure you provide it, or your request will be delayed.

* The full [[URL]] (web browser address) of the page, edit, log, or log entry containing information you think we need to suppress. If the facts are not obvious, please also supply a brief description of what we need to suppress and why we need to suppress it.

If you know how to do so, please also:
* Send us [[WP:DIFF|diff]](s) of the content requiring suppression. This saves us time.
* [[WP:REVDEL|RevisionDelete]] or [[WP:REVERT|revert]] the relevant revision(s) first (but only [[Streisand effect|if it will not draw undue attention]]). This removes the material from public view and stops it being perpetuated in future edits. Never use an edit or log summary like "awaiting suppression" when you do this; be discreet.

== How do you contact us? ==
{{anchor|how|How to report a matter to an oversighter|How to report a matter to an oversighter:}}

Choose one or more of the following:
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{{hidden|'''Using Wikipedia's quick form''' &ndash; recommended if you have an account|If you have a Wikipedia account with email enabled, then use '''[[Special:Emailuser/Oversight|this form]]''' to directly post a request. (''[[Special:Preferences{{!}}click here to enable account email]]'')

This is one of the fastest ways to request suppression. Please use a descriptive subject line.|style=margin-left:20px|headerstyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:120%;text-align:left;padding-right:3em|contentstyle=padding:3px;border:#d0d0d0 solid 1px;background-color:#f0f0f0}}
<div style="float:right;text-align:right;border:darkgrey solid 1px;background-color:lightblue;padding:2px;margin-bottom:15px">{{nowrap|Monitored at most times.}}</div>{{-}}

{{hidden|'''Using your own email to send a message to us''' &ndash; recommended if you don't have a Wikipedia user account|If you don't have a Wikipedia account with email enabled or prefer to use some other method of emailing, then '''email directly to: <u>{{nowrap|{{Oversight email}}}}</u>''' to directly post a request. (You may have to type the <code>@</code> sign into your e-mail client after you copy and paste our email address; pasting that address may render <code>@</code> as <code>-at-</code>.)

This is also one of the fastest ways to request suppression. Please use a descriptive subject line.|style=margin-left:20px|headerstyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:120%;text-align:left;padding-right:3em|contentstyle=padding:3px;border:#d0d0d0 solid 1px;background-color:#f0f0f0}}
<div style="float:right;border:darkgrey solid 1px;background-color:lightblue;padding:2px;margin-bottom:15px">{{nowrap|Monitored at most times.}}</div>{{-}}

{{hidden|1='''Using IRC'''|2=If you use {{nowrap|IRC <sup>([[Wikipedia:IRC tutorial{{!}}tutorial]])</sup>}}, then you can ask for an oversighter, or help finding an oversighter, in any of Wikipedia's official channels on Libera Chat. Visit this IRC channel and type the trigger word &nbsp; '''<tt>!oversight</tt>'''

::* '''{{IRC|wikipedia-en-revdel}}''' on Libera Chat, for sending urgent [[Wikipedia:Revision deletion|revision deletion]] requests to administrators.
::* <span style="font-size:90%">[[WP:STEWARD{{!}}Stewards]] can also suppress, but will not usually do so as English Wikipedia has its own team of oversighters. In a true emergency, there is almost always a steward on {{irc|wikimedia-stewards}} on Libera Chat, and they are extremely helpful and alert.</span>

:If an oversighter is around, using IRC can be a very quick method of requesting suppression. However, you '''must ''not'' post a diff to the suppressible edit(s) in any public channel. Find an oversighter, and then tell them about the edit in a private chat window.'''|style=margin-left:20px|headerstyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:120%;text-align:left;padding-right:3em|contentstyle=padding:3px;border:#d0d0d0 solid 1px;background-color:#f0f0f0}}
<div style="float:right;border:darkgrey solid 1px;background-color:lightblue;padding:2px;margin-bottom:15px">{{nowrap|Fast if an oversighter is}} {{nowrap|around and available.}}</div>{{-}}

{{hidden|'''By direct personal contact'''|If you know an oversighter and can contact one directly, you may do so. Requests do not have to be submitted through any official route, though you should '''not''' post it to their talk page. However, if the oversighter is not available then the above methods (especially sending an email request) will ensure an oversighter acts upon your request. Users with oversighter status are listed ''[[Wikipedia:Oversight#Oversighters{{!}}here]].

''Consider using the form or email as well to make sure the request is seen as soon as possible.''|style=margin-left:20px|headerstyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:120%;text-align:left;padding-right:3em|contentstyle=padding:3px;border:#d0d0d0 solid 1px;background-color:#f0f0f0}}

<center>Note: The suppression team does not respond to threats of harm. Such emergencies are dealt with [[Wikipedia:Responding to threats of harm|as described here]].</span></center>
[[Category:Wikipedia administration|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Wikipedia requests related to disputes]]