Talk:Wikimedia Foundation Community Affairs Committee/2024-03-21 Conversation with Trustees

link to the YouTube meeting

I ask that you provide a link to the YouTube meeting on this page. It was said at the meeting that this is what you will do. Thanks Hanay (talk) 15:11, 22 March 2024 (UTC)

I found Conversation with the Trustees - March 2024. Your answer to Itzik Edri is the legal advisor? really? Are the legal advisors who determine the spirit of Wikipedia? What's going on with you at the Wikimedia Foundation?

And why do you disable the comment option for the YouTube video? What are you afraid of? Hanay (talk) 19:09, 22 March 2024 (UTC)

Elena Lappen I'd like to receive an answer. Thanks Hanay (talk) 10:16, 23 March 2024 (UTC)

Comments on all of our YouTube videos have been disabled for years now. Unfortunately, people not affiliated with Wikimedia were coming and leaving harassing comments targeting both community members and staff that appeared in the videos--disabling was the best way to ensure we were protecting against harassment. If you leave the comments or questions you still have here, I can see that they get to the right place. ELappen (WMF) (talk) 17:55, 25 March 2024 (UTC)

User:ELappen (WMF), see my question above: Are the legal advisors who determine the spirit of Wikipedia? I would really appreciate it if I get an honest answer. Thanks Hanay (talk) 05:31, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

If you’re asking me about my views on the spirit of Wikipedia, I think it’s the  communities who determine that. Wikipedia is made what it is by all of the people who work tirelessly to build these projects and create their content based on consensus. You all–the community members–make the vast majority of decisions on the projects, deciding on and enforcing editorial policies. That community process and the content it creates is the spirit and heart of Wikipedia in my view.

At times, this structure can make it hard to determine who is responsible for what and who can intervene where. If I’m understanding correctly, I think your question is more about why the General Counsel of the Foundation was the one to answer this question on the call.  It’s not because the Foundation believes the law is the spirit of Wikipedia. It’s because there is a community decision being called into question, and the Foundation is being asked to examine it; in cases like this, the Foundation’s role is to look at whether that community decision fits within the policies. The policies in question here are the Terms of Use, the CentralNotice guidelines, and the trademark policy. The General Counsel, Stephen LaPorte, is not only a long-time Wikimedian, but he has the legal background to review those policies and understand when actions fall within what the policies allow.

As he mentioned on the call, the policies do not answer clearly whether this is an allowed use of CentralNotice. This is why Stephen also said that the policies need to be clarified. The Foundation has committed to leading a discussion with communities under our upcoming Annual Plan so that we can collaboratively work toward and agree on a clearer policy.

I know this answer may not be satisfactory to you, and that is understandable. I have tried to address the heart of your question as best I can, but if there’s anything else I can speak to, let me know. ELappen (WMF) (talk) 17:22, 27 March 2024 (UTC)