Draft IRC Network Policy v1.1

Jason Lynch <jason@aexoden.com>

Preface

This document is a generic IRC server or network policy that can be used as a base for a more specific policy. Its primary ideals are that of privacy, friendliness, understanding, and open access for all users, regardless of ISP, race, ethnic background, creed, religion, age, intelligence, or disposition.

You may wish to rewrite this or any other section to apply to your specific server or network. In addition, you may wish to include other information about your server or network.

Version History

v1.1 (2006 Nov 27)

Some minor rewording to improve readability.

v1.0 (Unknown date)

Initial version.

Chapter I - IRC Operators

  1. IRC operators are the staff of the server and/or network. Their job is to maintain the network and ensure that users do not cause damage to the network. They are the people whom you can turn to if you have questions or concerns regarding the server or network. In addition, you may report potentially harmful users to them.
  2. In many situations, IRC operators may be referred to as IRCops. This abbreviation should not be interpreted as IRC Cops, as they are not police officers, and have a role different to police officers in the real world.
  3. IRC operators do not have unlimited powers. Any power that is not explicitly granted to them is a power they must not use. In addition, several powers are expressly forbidden here to provide examples. The server owner or administrator may be able to override some of these constraints due to their ownership of the server.
    1. Granted Powers
      1. IRC operators may remove any user from the network for violating any of the rules specified in Chapter II.
      2. IRC operators may temporarily or permanently ban any user for repeatedly violating any of the rules specified in Chapter II. A single violation is, in general, not grounds for a ban.
      3. IRC operators may privately or publicly talk to a user regarding any behavior they find inappropriate, regardless of whether or not it is a violation of a rule specified in Chapter II. However, in doing this, they act only in the same capacity as that of a normal users, and thus cannot kill or ban the user if they refuse to listen.
      4. IRC operators may alter or cancel a channel or user's registration if it violates a rule set forth in Chapter II.
    2. Forbidden Powers
      1. IRC operators must not kill or ban users for entertainment purposes. This is a gross violation of policy and doing so will result in discipline for the offending operator.
      2. IRC operators must not decide upon their own rules or regulations. They may only kill or ban for a violation of a server rule set forth in Chapter II.
      3. IRC operators must not take control of a channel they wouldn't otherwise have power in.
        1. IRC operators must not give themselves operator status in a channel unless they could do so without IRC operator privileges.
        2. IRC operators must not change or set modes in a channel unless they could do so without IRC operator privileges.
        3. IRC operators must not kick or ban users for violating a channel rule, unless they could do so without IRC operator privileges.
        4. IRC operators must not give or remove operator status from any user, regardless of the situation, unless they could do so without IRC operator privileges.
        5. IRC operators must not enter a channel from which they have been banned, unless there is probable cause to believe that said channel is violating a rule set forth in Chapter II.
        6. IRC operators must not enter a keyed channel unless they know the key, or have probable cause to believe the channel is violating a rule set forth in Chapter II.
        7. IRC operators should not enter a secret channel unless they know of its existence via means other than IRC operator privileges.
  4. IRC operators may be kicked or banned from a channel for any reason. For channel management purposes, IRC operators should be treated like any other user. If a situation arises where an IRC operator is kicked or banned due to questionable behavior, please contact the network administrator.

Chapter II - Server Rules

  1. Each user is allowed up to three concurrent connections to a given server. Depending on server load, additional connections may be tolerated. An IRC operator or administrator may ask you to remove these extra connections at their discretion.
  2. Attempting to gain IRC operator status or attempting to otherwise take control of the server or network are both expressly forbidden.
  3. Flooding the server in an attempt to bring it down is forbidden. In many cases, excess flooding is accidental, and will be handled effectively by the server. However, repeated violations or flooding from multiple attack vectors may draw the attention of the administrators, and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
  4. Entering multiple channels with the sole purpose of advertising another server is forbidden.
  5. Friendly bots are allowed. Bots do count toward your connection limit.
  6. Harassing another user is forbidden. However, users are expected to utilize the ignore feature of their client. Only in the event of a user harassing multiple other users publicly or privately should an administrator get involved.

Chapter III - User Discipline

  1. Discipline follows a set pattern, that while not set completely in stone, provides a basic guideline for discipline. IRC operators may be more lenient at their discretion. They also may be more strict in the event the server or network is in immediate danger.
    1. Upon the first offense, IRC operators should privately message a user, stating exactly what rule they are violating, pointing them to the server policy, and informing them that future transgressions may not receive a warning.
    2. If the user continues the behavior after the warning, a simple kill is recommended. This asserts a level of control and reminds the user that he is not invincible.
    3. If the behavior continues even beyond this, a temporary ban of 24-72 is recommended. Bans should be as specific as possible, in order to avoid inadvertently banning an innocent user. If such a ban proves to be impossible, it may be advisable to simply kill the user on sight.
    4. If after the short ban expires, the user returns and continues violating the rules, a longer ban of 1-6 months is recommended, based on the severity of the offense. If, as before, the ban proves to be difficult to maintain without affecting other users, it will be left to an administrator to officially deal with the problem.
  2. All actions taken against a user should be logged. Kills or server bans should include a full and complete reason for the action. Kills or bans without valid reasons will be considered invalid and removed.
  3. In the event that semi-permanently banning a user proves difficult, an administrator shall collect a log of all transgressions, the IP address of the offending user at the time of the transgressions, and the time of the transgressions themselves. The information should be collected and sent to the abuse department of the user's ISP. If the ISP fails to cooperate, further undefined action may be taken by the server or network administrators.

Chapter IV - Helpful Hints and Tips

  1. Since it is the case that IRC operators are to avoid using their powers in a channel unless they are specifically granted power by the channel staff, it is recommended to all channel founders that they make provisions for a sufficient number of operators to be on duty at all times.
  2. IRC operators are not gods. If you believe one is abusing his powers, please report this to the network administrator. Questionable behavior by our IRC operators is unacceptable and will be dealt with appropriately.

Chapter V - Privacy

  1. Channels are not automatically logged by any function in the server.
  2. Private messages, notices, and CTCP communications from user to user are not logged by the server.

Chapter VI - Problem Resolution

  1. If you believe you were inadvertently or wrongly banned, please contact the network administrator. Explain the situation in detail, providing logs if it helps explain your case. All decisions by the head network administrator are final.

Chapter VII - Client Rights

  1. A client has the right to know why they were killed or banned.
  2. A client running a channel has the right to kick or ban anyone from their channel for any reason.
  3. A client has the right to not be judged based solely on the ISP from which they connect. As such, ISP-wide bans are heavily discouraged in channels, and all but forbidden as server bans. Once again, please note that channel operators may kick or ban for any reason, and that this is merely a suggestion.

Chapter VIII - Modification

  1. This document may be modified at any time. Any new rules or regulations go into effect immediately upon being placed on the website. In addition, a global notice will usually be issued notifying users of the change. Some leniency may be granted for violating a new rule in its early days. However, it is expected that all users read and understand this policy.