Commons:Partial blocks

Shortcut: COM:PB Partial blocking is the method by which administrators prevent users, IP addresses and IP ranges from editing specific parts of Wikimedia Commons. Partial blocking is a technical feature of the software used to prevent damage or disruption to the wiki. Partial blocks are used as an alternative measure to a sitewide block when an administrator deems it possible to obtain the same level of projection to the project. In the case of continuous harmful contributions or attempts to circumvent a partial block, a partial block can be changed into a sitewide block.

Partial blocks can prevent a user from:

• Editing specific pages.
• Editing all pages within a namespace.
• Emailing other users.
• Creating other accounts.

Use

Partial blocks may be used at the discretion of any administrator, in accordance with the blocking policy, as an alternative measure to a sitewide block if it will achieve the same project protection.

A partial block may be used:

• To prevent disruption to Wikimedia Commons while avoiding a sitewide block.
• To enforce editing restrictions, preferably after a discussion at the blocks and protections noticeboard.
• As a requirement for conditional unblocks.

A partial block may not be used:

• When the level of disruption requires a sitewide block.
• To punish a user; blocking is designed to be a preventative measure and not a punitive one.
• To cool down a user; "cool-down" blocks are not condoned.

Partial blocks may be used for a number of instances and the need for a partial block, as opposed to a sitewide block, should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The more common uses of a partial block are detailed below:

• Edit warring: repeatedly overriding or reverting each other's contributions.
  • All or only one contributor may be partially blocked for edit warring. A partial block is most effective during an active (ongoing) edit war and may not be appropriate for a stale edit war.
• Topic ban: A user is sanctioned with a topic ban on specific page(s) or namespace
  • A user is sanctioned, per community consensus, with a topic ban that restricts them editing in an area where they have caused previously disruption.
• Malfunctioning bots: Approved bot accounts that are temporarily malfunctioning
  • In some instances, a malfunctioning bot may be stopped by blocking a specific page or namespace while allowing the bot's others functioning tasks to continue.

Blocking

Further information: Commons:Blocking policy

Administrators are expected to follow the same instructions outlined at Commons:Blocking policy § Instructions for administrators for a partial block as they would for a sitewide block.

Technical limitations

• When blocking a user from editing specific pages, there is a limit of 10 pages that may be specified. If conditions require additional blocking, a conversion to a standard sitewide block should be considered. Any number of namespaces may be blocked.
• Multiple blocks with different durations cannot be placed at the same time; it is only possible to adjust settings of the current block or to set a new partial block.
• Users cannot be blocked from only creating file or page pages at this point in time. Administrators are limited to blocking a user from editing a specific namespace which blocks file or page creation by extension.
• Users cannot be blocked from editing pages within a specific category, they can only be blocked from editing a category page.

History

Partial block was piloted on projects as early as February 2019. While some projects opted-in earlier, partial blocks were enabled on most Wikimedia projects on January 6, 2020. After a successful request for comment, partial block was enabled on Wikimedia Commons on January 1x, 2020. Wikimedia Commons was the last Wikimedia project to launch the partial block feature.

See also

• Commons:Blocking policy
• Help:Blocking users
• Meta:Partial blocks