Commons:Administrators' noticeboard/Blocks and protections

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This is a place where users can communicate with administrators, or administrators with one another. You can report vandalism, problematic users, or anything else that needs an administrator's intervention. Do not report child pornography or other potentially illegal content here; e-mail legal-reportswikimedia.org instead. If reporting threatened harm to self or others also email emergencywikimedia.org.
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Report users for clear cases of vandalism. Block requests for any other reason should be reported to the blocks and protections noticeboard.	Report disputes with users that require administrator assistance. Further steps are listed at resolve disputes.	Reports that do not suit the vandalism noticeboard may be reported here. Requests for page protection/unprotection could also be requested here.	Other reports that require administrator assistance which do not fit in any of the previous three noticeboards may be reported here. Requests for history merging or splitting should be filed at COM:HMS.
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Administrators: Please make a note if a report is dealt with, to avoid unnecessary responses by other admins.

purge Admin backlog

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Copyright:

• Copyright violations: ~126
• Unfree Flickr files: ~0
• Recent unfree Flickr images: ~2
• Media uploaded without a license as of 2025-08: ~281

Other:

• Duplicates: ~320
• Advertisements/spam: ~2
• Personal photos/selfies: ~71
• Other speedy deletions: ~94
• Categories for discussion: 84 months
• Media requiring a split up: ~0
• Requests for unblock: ~1
• Undeletion requests: ~13

Protected edit requests:

• Full protection: ~7
• Interface admin: ~13
• Technical: ~0
• Template protection: ~4
• Protection level: ~0

See also: DR, HMS, …

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Note

• For page protection requests, please state protection type, file name, and proposed protection time span. See also: Protection Policy.
• Before proposing a user be blocked, please familiarize yourself with the Commons' Blocking Policy.
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• Administrators: Please make a note if a report is dealt with, to avoid unnecessary responses by other admins.

88.251.82.151

Pattern of very odd editing by 88.251.82.151 (talk · contributions · Statistics · Recent activity · block log · User rights log · uploads · Global account information) (assign permissions) (pick any three edits at random and you'll see what I mean). Not clear if this requires a block or not, but I'd like another pair of eyes to take a look. - Jmabel ! talk 18:00, 30 July 2025 (UTC)

 Blocked by Achim55 for a month. -- CptViraj (talk) 14:53, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

semi-protection request

Please semi-protection for all pages in actual Category:Unicode_Module_Datasets – content is used in more local Wikipedias (without Data:Unicode/data/blocks .tab because this). Dušan Kreheľ (talk) 08:28, 31 July 2025 (UTC), --Dušan Kreheľ (talk) 08:28, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

 Strong support protection (either "edit: only autoconfirmed, move: only sysop", or "edit: only template editor, move: only sysop" and give the right "template editor" to Dusan), used in many non-wikipedia wikis too. "Unicode/data/blocks .tab" is dupe of "Unicode/data/blocks.tab", please delete the former with junk space. Taylor 49 (talk) 10:50, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

No total: images & emoji images must be strict only semi-protection. Dušan Kreheľ (talk) 19:11, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

@User:Dušan Kreheľ: I suggest that you request the right "Template_editor". I do not suggest "total" protection. I suggest "move: only sysop" (it is very unlikely that one will have to move those), and "edit: only template editor". Of course this goes hand in hand with you receiving the right template editor. Unfortunately on many wikis the local data modules are currently protected to the "total" level ie "edit: sysop only", and I fear that those wikis will refuse to switch to the central data if it is almost unprotected ("edit: only autoconfirmed, move: only autoconfirmed"). So my suggestion is "edit: only template editor, move: only sysop" and give the right "template editor" to Dusan. Taylor 49 (talk) 08:54, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

That last sounds about right to me. There should be very few edits ever needed on these, anyway. - Jmabel ! talk 17:22, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

These all definitely need to be at least autoconfirmed, probably even autopatrol. — SURJECTION ^{/ T / C / L /} 16:15, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

No set protection into 2025-09-11 (because m:Tech/News/2025/33 + 1 calendar month). Dušan Kreheľ (talk) 02:14, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

@User:Dušan Kreheľ: Sorry I do not understand. Do you oppose protection now? I suggest that you request the right "Template_editor". Taylor 49 (talk) 13:21, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

Presumably step one is for @User:Dušan Kreheľ to request template editor rights, citing this discussion. - Jmabel ! talk 16:50, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Also: is there any tool for mass-protecting the content of a category, or is someone going to have to go through these one-by-one? - Jmabel ! talk 16:51, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Pinging User:Dušan_Kreheľ again: please request the right "Template_editor". Any sysop (@User:Rosenzweig) has a tool for mass-protecting all files in a cat? Theoretically a bot can do that too, it just needs the "sysop" right. Taylor 49 (talk) 17:28, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Sorry, can't help you out here, I'm doing all my protecting manually :-) --Rosenzweig τ 19:54, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:Al Barkaat Islam School

Al Barkaat Islam School (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user Username containing a commercial trademark --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 11:44, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

 Support block, m:Special:CentralAuth/Al_Barkaat_Islam_School. Taylor 49 (talk) 11:52, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

 Done per discussion. Taivo (talk) 09:44, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:Luxuryroof

Luxuryroof (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user Username containing a commercial trademark --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 13:31, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

 Blocked by Pi.1415926535. -- CptViraj (talk) 14:51, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:Webmaster 2025

Webmaster 2025 (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user An account solely for advertising purposes --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 14:04, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

 Comment Their only contribution so far has been to upload the logo of a company with a WD item. Not seeing blatant advertising? Gbawden (talk) 14:12, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

It's the promo work and the ambiguous username. IMHO block worthy, but you do you :) --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 01:25, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

I warned the user, the upload is deleted. Taivo (talk) 09:47, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:B3lholdings

B3lholdings (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user Username containing a commercial trademark --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 14:08, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

 Not blocked as no edits after the warning on 1 August. -- CptViraj (talk) 14:49, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Please unprotect "Template:Universal replace"

Year 2013, 12 years ago:

> Yonatanh Protected "Template:Universal replace": no reason for anyone to edit this, could

> be used to make commonsdelinker do things it shouldn't do [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

Factual misconception. Most probably CommonsDelinker reads the source wikitext rather than the rendered HTML, thus it is inherently impossible that theoretically imaginable vandalism against this template would affect the work of CommonsDelinker in any way. Given that, no reason for this template to be protected to the highest level, just reduce to "autoconfirmed users only". See also Template:Universal replace/sandbox and Category:Commons_protected_edit_requests. Taylor 49 (talk) 08:59, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

Changes to this template could break the page at User:CommonsDelinker/commands. This justifies the protection as edits to the template should not be necessary that often. GPSLeo (talk) 09:23, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

Well, theoretically YES. Changes to any template (except unused ones) can affect or "break" some page. At least the level could be reduced to "template editor". Taylor 49 (talk) 09:32, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

Per above, important and mid-risk template, thus  oppose downgrading to autoconfirmed or autopatrol;  fine with template-editor. -- CptViraj (talk) 15:18, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Someone please reduce the level to "template-editor" then. I still believe that the risk level is very low, given that the template does NOT affect CommonsDelinker, is transcluded from very few pages, and possible broken look of User:CommonsDelinker/commands due to vandalism of this template would not propagate to other pages, not cause any subsequent damage, and could be fixed quickly and easily. A wiki is a website that anyone can edit after all, the default state of pages is "NOT protected", and it is protection that needs good reasons, not vice-versa. Taylor 49 (talk) 20:03, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

 Done - Jmabel ! talk 16:14, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:Digimarkcorporation

Digimarkcorporation (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user An account solely for advertising purposes --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 18:13, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

• I lean toward thinking the deletions and warnings so far suffice for now. Only two files, and I'm not even sure File:Digimark Corporation Solution.jpg is really out of scope; it isn't particularly an advertisement, even though that may be the reason they uploaded it. @Yann: the image itself doesn't even mention their company; I don't see anything but the title that is at all a problem. Can you explain why this is out of scope? - Jmabel ! talk 05:02, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

• OK, may be not out of scope, but this is a company product marketing picture, is of web size, and has no EXIF data. We need a confirmation of the license via COM:VRT. Yann (talk) 10:45, 2 August 2025 (UTC)
  • Agree, and they should have been told that, but we should not be blocking an account for not understanding that on their second-ever upload. There may be a problem here, but it's not one that calls for a block at this time. - Jmabel ! talk 18:11, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

I blocked the user indefinitely due to inappropriate username. Taivo (talk) 09:50, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

@Taivo: If we've now said that accounts using company names do not normally need to be verified—indeed, a large portion of the VRT has been rather militant about this—how is this name inappropriate? - Jmabel ! talk 16:19, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

I agree with Jmabel. I support VRT account verification, but if we don't do it, on what basis do we block these unverified accounts? Yann (talk) 17:06, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

@Krd and GPSLeo: your thoughts would be appreciated. - Jmabel ! talk 05:30, 6 August 2025 (UTC)

The proposal is still not decided and it currently only has a very weak majority. But I would also not block unverified company accounts just for being unverified company accounts. If they continuously upload photos without copyright verification or the uploads are considered spam they are blocked for that but for nothing else. GPSLeo (talk) 07:54, 6 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:Zorawar385

Zorawar385 (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user

The user have received more than enough warnings against posting more copyvio @Zorawar385: --Trade (talk) 21:50, 1 August 2025 (UTC)

@Trade: Many files in Commons:Deletion requests/Files uploaded by Zorawar385 are in the public domain, either per PD-textlogo or PD-India, especially File:Logo of the Vice President of Republic of India.png. Last deleted file was on 12 April 2025. Yann (talk) 11:01, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:ThresholdManagement

ThresholdManagement (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user An account solely for advertising purposes --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 14:24, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

 Blocked. -- CptViraj (talk) 14:48, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request for User:FIGLINE99

FIGLINE99 (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user Only copyvios, clearly doesn't want or is unable to adhere to basic rules. Maybe a CU could be helpful. --Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 16:51, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

@Hedwig in Washington: CheckUser isn't for fishing. If you have evidence that they're abusing multiple accounts, please file a case at COM:RFCU. Otherwise, use of the tool would be inappropriate. The Squirrel Conspiracy (talk) 17:58, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

I know, I just can't remember the name of the sockmaster the edits remind me of. ----Hedwig in Washington ^(mail?) 18:05, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

 Not done. A lot of uploads are nominated for deletion. Currently block is not needed. Taivo (talk) 09:53, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Block request User:1957Acme

1957Acme (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user New user reverting back to edits of a sock account. Wowzers122 (talk) 00:09, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

@Wowzers122: That would be Bend465, sock of TylerKutschbach, sock of Jurisdrew? I notified the user of this discussion on their user talk page, as you should have done per the above.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 00:39, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Yes, the account was created the same day as Bend465's block. Wowzers122 (talk) 00:44, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

 Done blocked as probable sock. @Wowzers122: would you please add a legend in the description of the map? The colors don't mean anything without a legend. - Jmabel ! talk 00:49, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Done. Wowzers122 (talk) 01:15, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Question to other admins: I don't have prior experience with blocking someone as a sock on a "duck" basis and having them appeal by simply denying it. Do we just say, "sorry, quacks like a duck" or do we do an RFCU or what? - Jmabel ! talk 05:02, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Please, it has been over 24 hours and no one is helping me out here. - Jmabel ! talk 05:42, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

This is an obvious sock in a long conflict about this particular diagram, hence this block is justified. There is no need to open a CU case in obvious cases as this one. This sock had just these two edits before being blocked. It is amazing that nowhere a discussion is going on regarding this diagram. --AFBorchert (talk) 07:13, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

I've now declined the unblock request. --AFBorchert (talk) 07:25, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

And a CU with TylerKutschbach wouldn't work anyway as that account is stale, i. e. the last edit is older than 90 days – after this period the IP addresses are gone. --AFBorchert (talk) 07:34, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

See m:srg#Global lock for Bend465.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 08:35, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

@AFBorchert and Jeff G.: Thanks. I do very few sockpuppet locks unless I really know the case myself, and hadn't encountered a denial before. - Jmabel ! talk 16:02, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

 Done. I declined unblock request again. Taivo (talk) 09:54, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Upload protection request for File:Flag of Egypt.svg

Constant vandalism on important file. Should be overwritten by auto patrolled users only. Kaim (talk) 03:45, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Semiprotected indefinitely by Yann. --Lymantria (talk) 20:09, 4 August 2025 (UTC)

Simplyarb

User: Simplyarb (talk · contributions · Move log · block log · uploads · Abuse filter log) block user
Reason for reporting: Uploaded copyvios again today despite having been finally warned in 2024. Grand-Duc (talk) 03:48, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

 Blocked for a month. -- CptViraj (talk) 09:19, 3 August 2025 (UTC)