diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1dfcf2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,190 @@ +# Moderation guidelines + +## Status + +This document is a working draft and incomplete. + +## Definitions + +The key words _shall_, _shall not_, _should_, _should not_, _may_ are to be interpreted as described in +[RFC 2119](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2119.html). + +- _shall_: strict adherence, no deviation +- _should_: recommendation, deviation with good reason +- _may_: suggestion, optional, but good manners + +### Representation + +The term _representation_ applies to both textual (something being described in text) and pictoral +(something shown in a still image or video) representation. It applies whether or not the represented +idea is real or imaginary. + +## Visibility + +- _unrestricted_ + - Activities _may_ be visible in public timelines. + - Media attachments _may_ not be marked as sensitive. +- _restricted_ + - Activities _shall not_ be visible in public timelines if unlabeled. + - Activities _should_ be labelled with a content warning. + - Activities _may_ be visible in public timelines if labelled with a content warning. + - Media attachments _shall_ be marked as sensitive. +- _prohibited_ + - Activities _shall_ be rejected. + - Media attachments _shall_ be stripped. + +### Personal integrity + +Many individuals experience discomfort or distress when confronted with the compromise of a person’s integrity. + +Personal integrity includes: +- Physical (bodily) integrity +- Mental (emotional) integrity + +**Representation of:** +- compromise of personal integrity _should_ be restricted. + - invasive medical procedures + - mental health +- non-consensual compromise of personal integrity _shall_ be restricted. + - physical violence + - psychological abuse + +**Practical application:** +- Media depicting physical violence _shall_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `violence`. +- Posts about mental health issues _should_ be labelled with `mh`. + +### Nudity & sexuality + +Nudity and sexuality are considered private to varying degrees in most cultures. Some individuals have +experienced trauma related to sexuality and find confrontation with nudity or sexuality distressing. +Some representations of sexuality are illegal. + +**Representation of:** +- any penis, vulva or anus _should_ be restricted. + - body parts commonly used to experience sexual pleasure +- bare anthromorphic torso _may_ be restricted. + - unclothed breasts, abdomen or buttocks +- non‐sexual nudity _may_ be unrestricted. + - breast-feeding of children + - non‐sexual nudity in medical settings + - non‐sexual nudity in culturally accepted settings +- erotic or sexual nudity _shall_ be restricted. +- erotic or sexual nudity involving humans or anthropomorphic characters below the age of 18 _shall_ be prohibited. +- sexuality _should_ be restricted. +- sexuality involving humans or anthropomorphic chararcters below the age of 16 _shall_ be prohibited. + - edge case: person describing their own experience of sexual abuse + +**Practical application:** +- Pictures with nudity _should_ generally be marked as sensitive and labelled with `nudity`. +- Sexually suggestive pictures without nudity _should_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `lewd` or `suggestive`. +- Explicit descriptions or depictions of sexual activity _shall_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `lewd`. + +### Bodily emissions + +Emissions from a being’s body tend to be considered private in most cultures. Many individuals experience +discomfort when confronted with them. + +**Representation of:** +- bleeding or blood _should_ be restricted. +- micturition or urine _should_ be restricted. +- defecation or feces _should_ be restricted. +- ejaculation or ejaculate _shall_ be restricted. + +**Practical application:** +- Descriptions or depictions of blood _should_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `blood`. +- Pictures of dog excrement _should_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `scat`. + +### Existential threats + +Confrontation with existential threats may be important, but can be highly distressing. + +**Representation of:** +- existential threats to any population _should_ be restricted. + +**Practical application:** +- Discussions of war or climate change _should_ be labelled with appropriate content warnings. + +### Politics + +Discussion of politics is very important, but can be exhausting. Some political ideologies are fundamentally +incompatible with our values. + +**Practical application:** +- Discussion of politics _may_ be labelled with content warnings (`pol`, `depol`, `uspol` etc.). + +### Food + +Food and its consumption are not considered private in most cultures, but some individuals have eating disorders +and may experience distress when confronted with food. + +**Representation of:** +- eating or food _may_ be restricted. + +**Practical application:** +- Pictures of meals _may_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `food`. + +### Eye contact + +Eye contact may be experienced as uncomfortable by some people. May need some research. + +**Representation of:** +- eyes focused on the viewer _may_ be restricted. + +**Practical application:** +- Selfies with eyes focused on the camera _may_ be marked as sensitive and labelled with `ec`. + +## Instance moderation + +Instances _should_ only be moderated if an issue cannot be expected to be resolved in a less invasive manner, +for example by addressing them directly with the users causing them or the instance administrators. +Reducing the visibility of an instance’s content _should_ generally be preferred over complete defederation. + +_(incomplete)_ + +- `activities`: + - `unlist`: Remove activities from federated timeline. + - `restrict`: Force activities to be visible to followers only. + - `reject`: Reject all activities except deletes. +- `media`: + - `mark`: Mark media attachments as sensitive. + - `strip`: Strip all media attachments. + +### Practical guidelines + +_(incomplete)_ + +#### Politics + +- Instances focused on right‐wing extremism _should_ be defederated. +- Instances with strong free speech policies _may_ have their activities withheld from public timelines. +- Instances with a high prevalance of unlabelled political content _may_ have their content withheld from public timelines. + +#### Personal integrity + +- Instances with a high prevalence of media depicting violence _should_ have their media marked as sensitive. + +#### Nudity & sexuality + +- Instances focused on CSAM _shall_ be defederated. +- Instances with a high prevalance of legally questionable sexual content _should_ have their media stripped. +- Instances with a high prevalance of unmarked sexual content _should_ have their media marked as sensitive. + +## Local user moderation + +Issues with local users _should_ preferably be addressed in a cooperative and constructive manner. + +_(incomplete)_ + +- Unlisting (removal from federated timeline), `mrf_tag:force-unlisted` +- Sandboxing (removal from public timelines), `mrf_tag:sandbox` +- Marking media attachments as sensitive, `mrf_tag:media-force-nsfw` +- Stripping media attachments, `mrf_tag:media-strip` +- Account deactivation +- Account deletion + +### Practical guidelines + +_(incomplete)_ + +- Users publishing CSAM _shall_ be permanently suspended. +- Users failing to mark sensitive media _may_ have them forcibly marked as sensitive.