Wikipedia:Simple sock puppets

The aim of this policy is to deal with the problem that is Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets. Admins have basically stopped dealing with this page. The cases there are too difficult to judge upon, there's too much in-fighting in every case and its one massive headache. As has been noted, any debate that's reached that far has probably lost all good faith.

However, sockpuppetry is clearly an issue if abused. It is obviously frustrating to report sockpuppetry and for us to basically ignore the report. Clearly, then, this needs solving.

It seems to me that the best way to do this to create two pages:

• Wikipedia:Simple sock puppets
• Wikipedia:Complex sock puppets

The two really speak for themselves. The first page is for the reporting of obvious cases of sockpuppetry to be dealt with quickly by admins who can block users on sight. It would be a good way of getting rid of people who are blatantly violating our polices.

The second is for the more complex sort of case where users suspect that sockpuppetry is going on, but in the form of two/three users who share the same opinion editing at one page. In effect, it may become a preliminary to requests for checkuser, acting as a filter to stop every suspicion getting that far. It could even solve some cases itself. Hopefully by splitting the complex from the easy (as we do with vandalism) we can make the caseload much more manageable. At the moment, Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets has basically collapsed.

This is the simple page. In defining simple/complex, I've stolen the categories used at the requests for check user page. Basically, I'm seeking feedback and I hope this, or something along these lines, can be introduced!

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Welcome to Wikipedia:Simple sockpuppets. This is for reporting cases that show an obvious abuse of sockpuppets. Before reporting here, read carefully below about our guidelines for where to report sockpuppetry and for what constitutes an abuse of the rules. Bear in mind that running a sockpuppet account is not, in itself, against Wikipedia's policies.

What constitutes 'simple'?

Simple means that an Admin can look at the case and decide beyond reasonable doubt within a few minutes that the abuser is using sockpuppets. If you think the case is any more complex than this, don't report it here. Examples of obvious cases might be:

• Multiple accounts adding exactly the same text to an article, with the majority being clear single purpose account
• Cases where users have accidentally revealed themselves to be sockpuppets.
• Where the first edit of a newly created account has been to a poll or a deletion debates

If you think a case is one of complex sockpuppetry, please go to Wikipedia:Complex sockpuppets. If the case has affected the decisions in a closed poll, please go to Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser.

The table below provides a more detailed guide as to what to post here.

Code	Situation	Solution
A	Obvious, disruptive sock puppet	Report Here providing diffs of disruptive behaviour
B	Disruptive "throwaway" account used only for a few edits	Report Here with diffs
—	Question about a possible sock puppet related to an open arbitration case	Request checkuser on the arbitration case pages.
-	Request to identify and block the IP addresses responsible for blatant vandalism and attack accounts	List at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser
—	Evasion of bans or other remedies issued by the arbitration committee	List at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser
—	Ongoing, serious pattern vandalism	List at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser
	Vote fraud on ongoing vote	List at Wikipedia:Complex sockpuppets
—	Vote fraud where the possible sockpuppet votes do not affect the outcome of the vote	List on Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents
—	Vote fraud for a closed vote where the possible sockpuppet votes affect the outcome	List at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser
—	3RR violation using socks	List at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser
—	Evasion of community-based bans or blocks	List at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser
—	Other disruption of articles	List at Wikipedia:Complex sockpuppets
—	Open proxy where you already know the IP address	List on Wikipedia:WikiProject on open proxies

Reporting suspected sock puppets

1. An alternate account that is not used for abuse does not warrant a complaint. Keep in mind that users may sometimes make mistakes, so in cases where an alternate account is largely used for legitimate activities, it may be appropriate to ask the user before making accusations. The problem might merely have been caused by a mistaken login or other absent-mindedness.
2. Tag the user page (not the user talk page) of the suspected puppet account with the text {{User:Robdurbar/sandbox}} ^{That page to be moved into the template namespace if this were succesful}. This template will alert readers of the suspected puppet's user page that someone thinks the account is a bad-faith secondary account, and will be told which account is thought to be in charge. Bear in mind that incorrect identification of the master account will not bias against succesful reports.
3. Tag the suspected sock puppet(s) with the text {{User:Robdurbar/sandbox 2}} .
4. Now create a new report here, copying the format at the sample report. Your evidence should describe why you believe there's puppetry occurring, however obvious it might be. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, links to other cases you know about should be provided as well. The evidence should point to one or more instances of illegitimate use of the puppet account. Use diffs to show evidence of negative behaviour.
5. If your evidence suggests a case of clear abuse, with no serious doubt, an administrator may take the initiative to block the affected account. In less severe cases, administrators may quietly monitor the account's activities.
6. Where there is significant abuse and yet puppetry is not certain, admins will either direct you to Wikipedia:Complex sock puppets or Requests for CheckUser .

Sample report

User:Robdurbar (edit | [[Talk:User:Robdurbar|talk]] | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

User Robdurbar is the sockpupeteer of the following accounts:

User:Robdurbar's sock (edit | [[Talk:User:Robdurbar's sock|talk]] | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

• The following edit(s) prove(s) that this is the same editor: User explicitly says that he is a sockpuppet
• The following edit(s) prove(s) that the account is being used abusively: Attempting to sway support in policy debate

User:Sweaty sock (edit | [[Talk:User:Sweaty sock|talk]] | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

• The following edit(s) prove(s) that this is the same editor: User states that he is a sock puppet
• The following edit(s) prove(s) that the account is being used abusively: Attempting to sway support in policy debate