On Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 11:20:15PM -0800, Vid Ayer wrote: > I'd like to add my zero paise worth here because I believe a part of > this discussion is indirectly related... it started when the fridge > editors (I am one) were required to be a part of the LP-beta testers > team and I offered to leave the team because I have been rejected from > the team for not agreeing to the real name policy. One of the > Canonical employees was nice enough to understand my points, take up > the issue but was unable to change the real name policy, which I > believe is the *best* way to lose technical contributors. Like most folks (it seems) here, I would also encourage Ubuntu and Launchpad admins to find ways to allow folks to edit the Fridge, be Launchpad beta testers, etc., without having to publicize their full legal name. I submit that there are many reasons that individuals may choose to do so, e.g. as a way to avoid harassment by nasty people or corrupt governments. I also think accountability can be important, and I think the two are far from incompatible. Read on for the details and how dealing with this makes Ubuntu and Launchpad better also. HggdH, thanks for the links to previous discussions: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/launchpad-users/2007-May/001442.html > https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/launchpad-users/2007-May/001456.html In that thread last year Steve Alexander of Canonical and Launchpad wrote some things I think are helpful contributions. https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/launchpad-users/2007-May/001494.html : > I think it's fine to use a made-up name, so long as it is your own > made-up name, and you're not trying to mislead people through using > it. > .... > You can use GPG, and be part of the web of trust, without directly > revealing your real name. For example he notes that you can establish a PGP key with your pseudonym, and sign it with a real-name key of your own in order to get it into the web of trust. I'd note that you can also get signatures from others who are willing. This pattern of someone who is well known vouching for others who are using pseudonyms is a very important and common pattern. E.g. the Shibboleth project is used to run Federated Identity networks like InCommon. (Disclaimer: I'm associated with these projects at Internet2.) Universities that want to make library information like online journals pseudonymously available to all their students do so by making agreements with the online libraries and using Shibboleth. Shibboleth allows for different pseudonyms to be used with each online library in very convenient ways. The student only needs to know how to log in to their student account at the university. But it also allows for accountability. If a student abuses the network, the online library can get university administrators to take appropriate action. This leads me to my larger point. This problem is not unique to Ubuntu. Ubuntu and Launchpad should be using this issue as an opportunity to roll out support for federated identity and pseudonyms. Now, back to another one of Steve's comments: > For Launchpad purposes, we require you to use your real names if > you're going to be a Launchpad beta tester. Being a beta tester > means taking on a particular responsibility, and making an agreement > with the Launchpad team about that. I want to know someone's name > when I enter into an agreement with them. So, we'll require real > names for Launchpad beta testers. This is where I disagree with him. I think the sorts of technical means and policy agreements we're discussing give Launchpad the tools it needs to both get accountability for keeping agreements and let people use pseudonyms. E.g. Launchpad could require that someone with a pseudonym get a few PGP signatures from folks that both Launchpad and the user trust, with an agreement about the consequences of abuse, whatever that may be perceived to be. I know some will wonder what the big deal with Launchpad Beta Testers is. I don't know, but again I'm looking at the bigger picture. We can all agree there are times when the stakes are higher and organizations like Launchpad want to have some way to prevent some sorts of abuse. I'm just saying that for a large, interesting set of such problems, we have tools and should start rolling them out, so we both get more participation and sufficient accountability. And as the solutions mature, they will be useful for other situations and help Ubuntu meet the needs of more and more people and organizations. Neal McBurnett http://mcburnett.org/neal/
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