Document summary
This policy governs Council participation, voting, comments, reports, and appeals, while protecting honest criticism from removal merely because it is negative.
Role of the Council
The Council is a structured space for turning feedback into assessable suggestions. It is not a general forum, support channel, or place to publish vulnerabilities or complaints containing sensitive data.
Participation
Reading does not require an account. Voting, commenting, and posting require an account verified to the required assurance level. Use an allowed display name and do not impersonate staff or an organization.
A useful suggestion
Search before posting, describe the problem, beneficiary, and expected outcome, and separate fact from opinion. Explain the difference when a similar suggestion appears. Do not post trade secrets or content you lack permission to use.
Voting integrity
Each eligible account has one vote per suggestion. Vote buying, multiple accounts, automation, and covert coordination are prohibited. The public count remains unchanged while internal trust signals support investigation and do not discriminate based on viewpoint.
Discussion
Challenge the idea, not the person. Objections, questions, and alternatives are welcome. Harassment, threats, hate, personal data exposure, stalking, deliberate repetition, and discussion disruption are prohibited.
Moderation
Reports are reviewed in context. One report does not automatically hide content except for clear risk such as personal data or an exploitable vulnerability. Every removal or restriction records reason, evidence, and duration.
Duplicates and merging
The system suggests similar items but does not merge automatically. A merge preserves the old link, contributors, useful attachments, and unique votes only, and explains why the primary suggestion was selected.
Official decisions
High vote counts increase review priority but do not guarantee implementation. Decisions consider value, cost, risk, dependencies, and direction. A rejection or deferral includes a clear public reason and a next step where one exists.
Appeals
Removal, closure, restriction, and bans may be appealed. The request identifies the decision, grounds, and evidence. A moderator does not review their own decision where another reviewer is available. An appeal does not pause urgent protection before review.
Use the right channel
Send technical problems to Support, vulnerabilities to security disclosure, formal complaints to Contact, and data requests to Privacy. Moderators route content to the right channel where possible.
Versions
Change log
- Version 1.0.0
Published the first operational version with clear scope, responsibilities, rights, and escalation routes.