Wikivoyage:Checkuser
 | This page in a nutshell: Checkuser can be used to examine user IP address information and other server log data. It is to be used sparingly and only to protect Wikivoyage against disruption, block evasion or spambots. |
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This policy supplements but does not replace the Wikimedia Foundation's global checkuser policy at m:CheckUser policy — nothing here may override that policy. |
 | For legal and security reasons, the Wikimedia Foundation has decided to require two-factor authentication (2FA) for this role. |
Checkuser is a tool that is executed by a very few trusted community members. Their tasks are to examine user IP address information and other server log data. The tool is only used to protect Wikivoyage against vandalism and disruption. All data from the tool analysis remain non-public to protect the privacy of users. The checkuser log will be only accessible for the selected checkusers, Ombudsmen, and WMF staff. Administrator rights are not sufficient to access that log.
Currently, the English Wikivoyage has 2 local checkusers. However, stewards may continue to use their checkuser tools in non-emergencies even when local checkusers are appointed and available. Their use of the tool is not limited solely to situations where no local checkuser is active or present.
CheckUsers must meet the Wikimedia standard requirements documented at Meta:CheckUser policy.
Reasons for the involvement or notification of the Checkusers include investigations to prevent, or respond to:
- Sock puppetry for the purpose of disruption
- Block evasion
- Spambots
If you think a checkuser investigation is warranted, first consult with an administrator to get a second opinion. Then, go to Wikivoyage:Requests for checkuser and make the request from there.
Local checkusers
Local checkusers on this site include:
For checkusers
Privacy
As an utmost rule, even if the user is committing abuse, personal information, such as IP addresses or location, should almost never be revealed.
- Generally, do not reveal IPs. Only give information such as same network/not same network or similar. If detailed information is provided, make sure the person you are giving it to is a trusted person and will not reveal themselves.
- If the user has said they're from somewhere and the IP confirms it, it's not releasing private information to confirm it if needed.
- Temporary accounts should be treated the same way as IPs. This is because while the IP of temporary accounts may not be visible to most users, they are still visible to a large number of users who haven't signed ANPDP. (see m:Ombuds commission/2025/Temporary Accounts for the statement from the Ombuds commission)
- Give no detail if in doubt.
Tools
See m:Help:CheckUser for a full list of other tools that may be of assistance.
Sockpuppets
A secondary account used by one person to pose as though they were a second person is called a sockpuppet. Such misleading use of accounts is discouraged on Wikivoyage.
Sockpuppets are usually ignored here, unless the community suspects that a person is using them to be disruptive. In such a case, if the community does find a difficult user to be using multiple accounts, the secondary accounts will be permanently blocked from Wikivoyage. While the primary account may still be allowed to edit, the difficult user's reputation will be tarnished, and will be trusted less by other users — an easy way to avoid this is to just use one account.
Since majority-rule voting is not employed on Wikivoyage, sockpuppets do not present much difficulty to site processes.
Using sockpuppets to get around a block is considered block evasion, and will trigger an immediate and indefinite block of the sock account.