SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
DECISION – 'aristarchus':
Introduction:
Actions have consequences. This is not a matter of free speech or censorship.
Doxing "Doxing or doxxing is the act of publicly revealing previously private personal information about an individual or organization, usually via the internet." This is the definition upon which we are basing this decision. Legally, the term does not appear to be well-defined in the US but doxing is also covered by laws relating to harassment, threats, and abuse. Elsewhere in the world, the definitions are sometimes more clearly defined but might cover a broader interpretation than the US definitions. Which interpretation is applicable could depend on the location of the perpetrator.
Background:
We first noticed that something was amiss in late 2020. Submissions from 'aristarchus' would contain certain words, phrases and names which were apparently unconnected with the rest of the content. We were unable to understand their significance at that time, but they would be meaningful to the intended victim. (Story submissions by 'aristarchus' often contain additional material that he has inserted himself.) In almost all cases we removed them prior to posting the submission as a story because they had no bearing on the rest of the submission.
In late 2021 the doxing became more blatant both in comments that were made to stories and as well as on IRC. We also contacted the victim (by now it was obvious to us who it was) who responded and explained what had been published, where and when. We also discovered additional material that had not been seen by the victim. He had been suffering this abuse for a considerable time.
Please Note:
This investigation is not something that has been carried out purely on a whim by the admins on this site. During it we have consulted with and taken advice from a representative of the board of directors. (As an aside, SoylentNews PBC has never been 'run' by 'TheMightyBuzzard' or any of the current admin staff whose names you know well.) This is a serious matter and the investigation was conducted with utmost discretion by a very small team.
To ensure that 'aristarchus' is aware of this Decision he will receive an Admin-to-User message and an email to the address associated with his username drawing his attention to it.
Publishing Personal Information:
It is now apparent that 'aristarchus' has doxed at least one person in our community, and possibly others who may have left the site rather than suffer the harassment. This is not a single act, but has taken place repeatedly over a significant period of time.
'aristarchus' has published the victim's full name, where the victim lives, and the victim's employer. Presumably he believes this information to be accurate. We have seen additional comments that contain threats and state very personal information, such that posting them here would likely do further damage. We are trying to be discreet. If it were you, would you want us to air all the information that has been revealed? This action might also have placed other members of the victim's family at risk from abuse or embarrassment.
It is obvious that 'aristarchus' has conducted research away from this site. SoylentNews PBC does not hold such information nor has it been ever been declared in any comments.
We can only guess at the true reason behind these disclosures: at the very least it appears to be a smear campaign.
What We Have Done So Far:
- The victim has a full copy of all the evidence that we have been able to trace to date. The evidence was all publicly accessible. We are not aware of a compromise of any other community members' information. We are not going to indicate where this information might be found.
- We have made a separate backup of the database to ensure that evidence should not be lost.
- We have removed personal information from database comments and IRC logs where possible.
- It is entirely for the victim to decide whether to seek legal redress in this matter.
Options:
There are 2 options open to us.
(1) Permanent Ban
- 'aristarchus' will face a full and permanent ban from this community.
- His account(s) will be completely disabled.
- Any further posting he may make to the site will be treated as Spam.
(2) Temporary Ban
- 'aristarchus' will face a temporary ban of 3 months where his account(s) will be disabled. He will be able to restore his 'aristarchus' account when his ban ends. His conduct during this time will be taken into consideration before his account is reactivated.
- During the ban 'aristarchus' may still post on the site as an 'Anonymous Coward', with all the limitations that are associated with that i.e. no journal, no ability to moderate, etc. Whether he wishes to make his identity known in his AC posts is entirely up to him.
- During and subsequent to the ban he is to act as we would expect any other member of this community to act. He is not to disrupt other discussions nor is he to continue to complain about his treatment. The ban is entirely a consequence of his own actions. We will not discuss this matter publicly. If he has complaints he may contact us via email as usual.
- He is to refrain immediately and completely from harassing other members of this community.
- Any serious future abuses by 'aristarchus' can result in a permanent ban being imposed without further warning.
We acknowledge that 'aristarchus' regularly makes insightful and interesting observations and we recognize that he has many supporters on this site. That is why we have offered the option of a conditional Temporary ban.
Action/Conclusion:
'aristarchus' must now decide which ban he wishes to accept. This is not negotiable – there are no other options open to him. If he does not respond either by commenting here or by email within 48 hours of the release of this Decision then we will assume that he has chosen the Temporary Ban and he is bound by the conditions stated within it. He may elect to change to a Permanent ban at any time.
For legal reasons we do not intend to comment further. The community can now see why several of the site admins have been putting in long working days, sometimes in excess of 12 hours since just before Christmas. We are exhausted and need to have a period of normal activity so that we can recover. We urge the community to be circumspect and restrained in the discussions to this Decision – there is little to be gained from inflaming the current situation any further. We ask you not to speculate about the identity of the victim.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by acid andy on Thursday February 03 2022, @07:32PM (14 children)
If this allegation is true then I am very disappointed in the perpetrator. Unfortunately, I am finding it quite difficult to imagine a plausible scenario where it is not true. And to those saying things along the lines of "How could you not see this coming?", I'm afraid this would be a step beyond anything that's been seen before and crosses a line into potentially causing harm away from the screen and keyboard, which is unacceptable.
I've updated my recent journal entry based on TFS.
Master of the science of the art of the science of art.
(Score: 2) by turgid on Thursday February 03 2022, @08:33PM
I suppose everyone has their limits, a breaking point, and it's not as far away as we'd like to think.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 03 2022, @10:24PM (9 children)
Ooh ooh now do Runaway1956's "50 million dead progressives" and the variety of other threats of violence from himself and other users. Personally I'm loving the hypocrisy around here, though I do hope it will lead to SoylentNews maturing into a better platform for nerdy discussions.
While doxxing is more direct don't forget to include the continued racism being spewed as a form of intimidation and harrassment. Though the fReE PeAcHes crowd will cry crocodile tears.
Yes it can be a slippery slope, but https://soylentnews.org/meta/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=47504&page=1&cid=1218254#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] is an example of hypocrisy. Spreading dangerous medical advice, supporting domestic terrorism, and harrassing a community with bigotry are apparently totally fine, but publishing personal information is a bridge too far? At least the victim is a single person.
Doxxing is vile, but what an excellent example this incident is making for the problems with SN ideology. The 1st amendment is to protect citizens from the government, not guaranteed access to a platform. The 2nd amendment is about citizens protecting themselves, with a clause to allow regulation. Libertarians need to drop their absolutism with regards to personal freedoms and realize there are always exceptions to every rule.
Just post the Code of Conduct already and run polls to gauge the community's response to various measures. If SN will remain a fiefdom then at least clearly post all the rules (codes of conduct) and stop pretending it is purely a community driven site. Time to grow up libertarians, even the ones on the tail end of life.
"We are living in toxic times, and they're bleeding into all of us." -Phoenix666
Indeed we are, and democracy is in great danger in many countries because a large portion elevates the toxicity to unprecedented levels e.g. the 45th POTUS. Since that boondoggle is still being argued about, with none other than Phoenix666 having voted twice for it, I don't hold out much hope. That isn't a partisan comment, personally I see valid points from conservatives and liberals. Toxic is as toxic does, and such concern trolling from a two-time Trump voter really says everything you need to know.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 03 2022, @10:41PM
The truth really hurts trolls' feefees, they want to have their cake and beat it too.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 03 2022, @11:47PM (2 children)
The "clause" you refer to, is explanatory. "The reason we demand this right, is that sometimes you have to fight for your rights, so the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." It is not "a clause to allow regulation", as you suggest. Nowhere will you find contemporary correspondence to support your false interpretation of the 2nd.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 06 2022, @01:26AM (1 child)
And now we are reduced to Runaway-like death threats.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 06 2022, @02:06AM
There's no death threat in there, just a comment on the second amendment's structure - a comment which is backed up by the Heller case's judgement.
Or are you so stupid that you think that the mention of self-defence constitutes a death threat?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 04 2022, @12:47AM (1 child)
I may be misremembering, but I'm having a really hard time thinking of any occasion of acid andy supporting Runaway on pretty much anything.
I think you're barking up the wrong tree here.
(You obviously have analytical problems with the concept of civil liberties as well, but this site has plenty of authoritarian little jackboot-lickers, so that's not a disqualifying factor.)
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 04 2022, @01:09AM
You're not misremembering.
Master of the science of the art of the science of art.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday February 04 2022, @01:53PM (2 children)
This exemplifies the tragic failure of our educational system and our political discourse. "Toxic" does not mean, "Anyone and anything that does not agree with me." But that is what you think "toxic" means. You rub your finger across others' words to blur the line to "toxic." Everyone knows "toxic" means "poisonous, bad for you." Then you can point to it and see, "See! Wrongthink is dangerous and bad for you. We must disallow it! Won't anyone please, PLEASE think of the children!"
You're not seeing it, but you are already standing over the line that keeps us from sending people to camps and committing other atrocities.
tl;dr: "toxic" != "disagree"
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 04 2022, @06:40PM (1 child)
Ok fine you fark8ng NAZI! That better snowflake? You vote for a fascist twice then want to gaslight others for pointing it out? Did you already build your local gas chambers and ovens too? Christo-fascism is looming and *nyah nyah you're the reeeeel nazi* is the best you've got? Pathetic.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 05 2022, @02:03AM
Right.
Because the idiot who got shot taking hostages in that synagogue was a good ol' boy pentecostal, right?
Wait, he was a british, islamic dude ... Oh no!
Because the people in Congress desperately trying to get all up in Israel's case about Apartheid (which doesn't match what Apartheid actually was, by the way) are all hard-core, rock-ribbed republicans!
Wait, they're progressive democrats? No, no, no, this cannot be!
Because activists like Rachel Corrie are trying to win back the Holy Land for Opus Dei and the secret revived Templars!
... wait, she was a hard-core leftie from Evergreen State College?
AAAArrrrgh! Worldview collapsing! Mental state imploding! Noooo ....
Seriously, dude, the nuts with the collective hard-on for worrying about the diabolical hook-nosed jewish banker vampires are on the left these days, by a huge majority. A few lost neo-nazis who still think that Der Fuehrer had a few good ideas? Sure. But for the mainstream antisemitism you'd have a better chance chatting up your keffiyeh-wearing veganista at the local organic co-op, and it's been this way for over a decade, just intensifying.
But good luck on your deflections, keep punching that GW bobblehead and watching the spring bobble.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 04 2022, @04:02AM
If you don't expect too much then you might not be let down. The allegation isn't much surprise to some..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 05 2022, @09:01AM (1 child)
"If" it is true. Comes from the same sources that alleged sockpuppetry, with no demonstrable proof. Trust them, they claim to know.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 06 2022, @05:10AM
"IP logs are dropped after 2 weeks, we protect user privacy"
. . . . . .
"We can tell what IP hash the very first message on SN was posted from."
. . . . . .
"Sure I could build a rainbow table in a few hours to build a list of all the IPs"
-The Mighty Buzzard
Just a reminder that much of what is stated here on SN does not conform with reality. IPs have been logged since day one, with a trivially overcome hash added that they claim protects your privacy yet the former admin says he could rebuild in a few hours. What a farce.