RfC about naming "Soldier F" in the Bloody Sunday (1972) article[edit]

The following discussion is an archived record of a request for comment. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.
Numerically, there is a very slight lean towards opposition to the proposed question. The argument on both sides essentially boils down to whether WP:BLPNAME (and to a lesser extent, WP:BLPCRIME) applies in this situation. Those in favour say that it has been widely disseminated, while those opposed say that the small number of publications - the majority of which they say are primary - does not meet that threshold. I see no indication that there is a single irrefutable standpoint or comment that holds more sway than any other. Therefore, there there is no consensus on the question of whether to include the name of Soldier F in this article.
In other words, the result is insufficient to either determine that BLPNAME does not apply or overrule it with a local consensus, and thus the name will not be included. Primefac (talk) 11:23, 18 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Should the article name "Soldier F", the soldier on trial for several murders on Bloody Sunday, and whose identity is the subject of a British injunction? BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 17:21, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

There are, however, other super injunctions that are not mentioned on the pages of the people they relate to. There are also cases where someone has been named under Parliamentary Privilege, but the press have avoided quoting Hansard. However, we also come down to the basic issue of what naming Soldier F actually achieves. The trial has yet to start. He may be identified in the course of it, or - in the event of a conviction - at the end. If he is cleared, where does that leave us? It seems that some are keen for Wikipedia to indulge in what amounts to little more than a "we know who you are/where you live" back-alley threat to someone who has yet to be tried. Nick Cooper (talk) 20:18, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Just because the British press are (maybe somewhat understandably after Operation Midland) paranoid about breaching anonymity orders – even where they can avail themselves of qualified parliamentary privilege – doesn't mean we have to be.
Additionally, the use of anonymity orders when it comes to prosecuting the atrocities of the Troubles is a controversial issue in Northern Ireland, especially when combined with the attempts over the past few years to grant amnesty for those same atrocities. The naming thus becomes a not-insignificant public interest issue, in that regard. Sceptre (talk) 20:38, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
So we must name him to make sure that this cover up isn't perpetuated. DeCausa (talk) 20:42, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Ah, the "accuse your opponent of being a woke SJW" card, a classic. RGW is one of the most misused snarl words on this encyclopedia, and in any case, doesn't apply; nobody's saying the sources been presented don't pass muster, after all.
Nor is anything that I've said is actually incorrect; the anonymity order was an issue of public interest, as was the use of anonymity orders to ban reporting of toxic waste dumping, as was the use of anonymity orders to ban reporting of celebrities' infidelities. No MP wakes up one morning and thinks "oh, wouldn't it be such a jape to breach a court order today?"
What reason is there to treat this case different from other cases we've dealt with before? I don't think an attempt to remove content in the Gylfi Sigurðsson article related to his arrest for child sex offences would be ultimately successful, even though that naming hasn't been in that many reliable sources either.
Sure, Soldier F's representatives have been diligent in enforcing the court order elsewhere. Other websites can deal with that as they please, but fundamentally, Wikipedia is not censored. Unless and until the WMF step in, we treat this case the same as all the others. Sceptre (talk) 21:16, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I agree. What should determine how we treat Soldier F's identity is the fact that his name has not been widely disseminated [and] has been intentionally concealed" rather he was "an agent of the British state during the course of the killings (which he admitted to doing) in one of the biggest atrocities of the Troubles". Isn't your answer to Canterbury Tail's question below, 'the just exposure of a wrong-doer'? DeCausa (talk) 21:27, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Gylfi Sigurðsson's name "has not been widely disseminated [and] has been intentionally concealed" in connection with child sexual offences. We still mention his arrest for child sex offences.
Soldier F arguably ceased to be a private individual on 30 January 1972, and definitely ceased to be a private individual on 15 July 2010. That his full name wasn't published in reliable sources until recently does not make him a "private individual"; indeed, his identity was well known in Derry for many years before Eastwood's speech.
Additionally, the only suppressible element of his identity is his surname; his forename appears in the report of the Savile inquiry and reliable sources predating Eastwood's speech include it too. Sceptre (talk) 21:44, 7 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
No. There are no reliable references (Hansard is iffy) With "British society tends to cover up for its war criminals" - that's every country.( IRA's murder of two Australian tourists by incompetents in Netherlands). (I am Australian -and yes we are rubbish as well). Wakelamp d[@-@]b (talk) 13:43, 9 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Good question - but is a better question not "why would we conceal the name?" There is absolutely no question that in the absence of an injunction, then both Soldier F, and the late Soldier G would be named in the article. Why? Because they were central to events, their identity is known, and has been published. True, in the absence of an injunction, the names would have been published much more widely. But WP is not censored, and despite the existence of injunctions in other cases, WP has published the names of those involved - multiple examples above. Publishing the names does, as you say, add factual information, and in addition reinforces the fact that WP is transparent and independent of outside influence. (Though that has not always been the case in the past - as can be seen from discussion earlier on the page, off-Wiki steps have previously been taken to conceal names.) BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 12:31, 8 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I'm not coming down on one side of the discussion or another, and I will refrain from casting a view, but I just want to make sure that the outcome of the discussion is based on encyclopaedic values and integrity of the article, not they need to be named and shamed and held accountable or other reasons as this is understandably a sensitive topic. At the end of the day we should go with what multiple reliable sources are saying, not what our emotions are telling us. If multiple widely disseminated reliable sources are using the name then I don't see there's an issue. What I do find interesting is the comment above on he was acting under orders from the armed forces and government, which to my mind would actually lend credence to the fact that their individual identity is not that important as they were just a tool and extension of the government, not acting on their own. I think this may be better served actually on the BLP Noticeboard than here, may be more likely to get more neutral viewpoints.Canterbury Tail talk 12:40, 8 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I don't think anyone has ever said that the Paras had specific orders on that day, but it is well known that they had general orders (of questionable legality) to shoot-to-kill. Regardless, though, whether they were acting under orders or not is beside the point, because members of pretty much any military in the world have a legal obligation to refuse to use force that they know to be unlawful.
This point is mostly beyond the scope of this discussion, though, beyond its use to argue why Soldier F should not be considered a "private individual". The question here is whether the article should include the name or not, and myself and Bastun have given reasons why the precedent is that we should. To depart from that precedent would require a good reason. Sceptre (talk) 22:50, 8 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
No, that's wrong. Per WP:CONLEVEL we don't work on the basis of precedent unless and until a policy has actually been changed. That's not the case here. A local consensus on a particular instance might be relevant to consider the arguments raised but the consensus in that case is very defintely not a "precedent" in that way. Consensus is free to emerge in whatever way the editors posting to on this page see fit consistent with policy. DeCausa (talk) 23:05, 8 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Canterbury Tail, this is also now an issue on the Village (magazine) article. I don't want discussion to be spread over two or three locations and am not very familiar with the BLP Noticeboard. Would it be in order to post there, directing people to this RfC? BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 16:30, 9 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Yes I think so. I’m not hugely a participant at the BLP/N but I think a quick presentation of the facts there would be in order. I think the conversation may need to be moved there as whatever the outcome it will affect more than one article so a consensus here wouldn’t apply to others, but one there would. Unfortunately I will likely not be able to participate or moderate any discussions for a bit as I’m travelling from tomorrow, coincidentally Ireland and Northern Ireland. Canterbury Tail talk 18:58, 9 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Really? His committal hearing takes place on January 16th. Guess we'll find out then. BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 15:17, 9 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
That isn't a committal hearing in the usual sense, it's a hearing to verify whether he can be charged and tried - the present CPS position being 'no'. It "will determine whether there is sufficient evidence against Soldier F to proceed to a Crown Court trial. If he is named and tried - obviously that changes everything. Pincrete (talk) 11:29, 11 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
  • Its certainly of greater interest in England and Ireland than elsewhere, but BLPNAME doesn't require that it be published in any particular area. Anyone interested can do the Google search and find Dave/David's full name in seconds. Mztourist (talk) 08:59, 10 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
  • When I google it, the bottom of the results page tells me "In response to a legal request submitted to Google, we have removed 4 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read more about the request at LumenDatabase.org. BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 09:52, 10 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
  • Google Soldier F Dave, still plenty of results with his full name. Mztourist (talk) 02:48, 11 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
    Perhaps it's because of where I am (Northern Ireland), but when I do that Google search the only results that come up are Twitter, Facebook, and boards.ie. At the end of the search results page, is a notice In response to a legal request submitted to Google, we have removed 26 result(s) from this page. Sideswipe9th (talk) 05:00, 30 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
  • Wow, then Google is clearly restricting the results. I just searched it again and the Village Magazine story was the first one that came up with Dave's full name in the headline. I was in Ireland the other week and didn't even think to try it while there. Mztourist (talk) 04:06, 31 October 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Censorship of external reliable source links[edit]

I don't know how I missed it, but on 17th January, [this link] [a link] to Hansard (the official record of debates in the British Parliament) and to a list of other publications that mention Soldier F's name was removed from this page. This includes the official record of Dáil Éireann, the Irish parliament, and, at the very least, to a Village Magazine article that names Soldier F and others. I am sorry, that is a huge over-reach of oversight powers, including WP:OSPOL. Sure, Identities of pseudonymous or anonymous individuals who have not made their identity public may be redacted from Wikipedia; but redaction of links to external WP:RS? No way, no how. WP:NOTCENSORED. BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 22:22, 6 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Bastun As you're aware we've already extensively gone through this, both in the RfC above and at BLPN. I would direct you to Barkeep's comment from 03:15, 18 January 2023 as well as the earlier ones in that thread on the applicability of OSPOL in this instance.
Because the BLP policy operates on a principle of least harm, that Soldier F's name has been intentionally concealed is a large factor in the applicability of WP:BLPNAME. As the RfC above found that there was no consensus that BLPNAME does not apply, and BLP operates under a principle of least harm, it is generally accepted that it does apply. And because BLPNAME applies, OSPOL#1 applies.
In the future, I strongly urge you to contact the oversight team or ArbCom directly, instead of making another talk page discussion about this, as this is clearly not an appropriate topic to discuss on the article talk page, in this manner. Sideswipe9th (talk) 22:49, 6 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
And I urge you to respect talk page guidelines. Do not edit my comments! I did not disclose Soldier F's name, I linked to the record of a parliamentary debate! This one! It beggars belief that you, or anyone, would try to censor a link to that, or any, trusted and respected reliable source! BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 00:20, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I redacted the link as a BLPNAME violation per what was the standard procedure around the time of the RfC. Once again, BLPNAME applies to Soldier F, and my understanding is that includes links to sources that mention his name. As multiple admins stated in the BLPN discussion, BLP is a much stronger policy in this instance than NOTCENSORED and so takes precedence over it. Sideswipe9th (talk) 01:32, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I might also suggest searching twitter for 'Soldier F' - there are a lot of results from the past 24 hours (which is what prompted me to look again at this article!) BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 00:24, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Twitter is not a reliable source. I'll remind you of a comment I made at 00:25, 10 October 2022 in the RfC above, Soldier F's name is an open secret within Northern Ireland. That he was named in Hansard, or that people are currently posting it on Twitter, doesn't actually make the name a revelation to me.
What matters to me is being compliant with our BLP policy, specifically WP:BLPNAME. The RfC from October 2022-January 2023 found that there was no consensus that BLPNAME does not apply to Soldier F, and in the absence of consensus that it does not apply because the BLP policy operates under a principle of least harm, BLPNAME continues to apply.
Within the realm of reliable sources, and not Twitter drama, has there been any changes with regards to Soldier F's name no longer being subject to reporting restrictions? From what I can tell, aside from the hearings resuming about a week ago, there hasn't been any significant changes. The trial is ongoing, so Soldier F has yet to be either convicted or acquitted. Sideswipe9th (talk) 01:46, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
The RfC was about whether Soldier F's name should be given on the page, it wasn't a decision to also censor the references to Hansard and Village Voice where Dave's full name is given. Mztourist (talk) 03:01, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Exactly! To be absolutely clear, while obviously I disagree with the outcome of the RfC, I have and will continue to respect the outcome. This includes not re-adding Dave/Soldier F's full name to this article, or to its talk page, or to the Village Magazine article, where it had been available for several months. But WP:BLPNAME does not in any way extend to censoring links to completely external sites - especially to ones of such standing as official records of parliamentary debates. Again, these are not scandal or gossip sheets, they are sources of the highest repute. I mean - where would one draw the line? Yes, reductio ad absurdem, but do we block links to Google?! And of course, the fact that Soldier F was named in both the British and Irish parliaments was also widely reported in the press. I have been using this site for over 15 years, and have never come across such a situation before. Frankly, I'm appalled that anyone would think it acceptable to censor Wikipedia in this way. BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 09:38, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Respectfully, it seems as though your main problem here is the interpretation of OSPOL#1 and how it interacts with BLPNAME outside of the article space. That isn't something that can be resolved at the article level. As that's something that effects multiple articles, including this one, it's something that's likely best discussed at either Wikipedia talk:Oversight or WP:ARCA. Or maybe WP:BLPN. Sideswipe9th (talk) 18:18, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Well, the issue is that this doesn't seem to affect multiple articles. This seems to apply only to this article and Soldier F specifically. Cortador (talk) 20:44, 21 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
"reporting restrictions", is that not a euphemism for censorship? Cashew.wheel (talk) 21:30, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
It's standard terminology in UK court proceedings. And it's also part of the WP:BLPNAME policy point; When the name of a private individual has not been widely disseminated or has been intentionally concealed, such as in certain court cases or occupations, it is often preferable to omit it, especially when doing so does not result in a significant loss of context (emphasis mine). Sideswipe9th (talk) 21:37, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Yes. "Often preferable" - not "Always mandatory that" - and nowhere in that quoted policy does it also say "it is often preferable to omit it, and to also remove links to external reliable sources where it is mentioned."
"Reporting restrictions" is indeed standard terminology and the practice of same is - as outlined in the linked document - par for the course in British (and Irish) courts. But that's for trials involving minors, and/or victims/complainants/witnesses in trials involving sex crimes, FGM, etc. Reporting restrictions by injunction or super-injunction for other reasons are exceedingly rare. And again, even if such injunctions applied to Wikipedia (they don't), that still wouldn't prevent Wikipedia linking to external sites such as Hansard, the record of the Oireachtas, or Village Magazine.
I take your point that this is possibly better discussed at an alternate venue, but this is where I first noticed this censorship, and so I raised it here. BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 23:12, 7 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Didn't Barkeep49, an arb and oversighter, redact links such as these in the above RfC thread? I'm struggling to see the difference. DeCausa (talk) 07:19, 8 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Ah! Just realised that's what you're complaining about in your OP. Maybe Barkeep49 should comment anyway. DeCausa (talk) 07:29, 8 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Oversight policy says that a reason for oversight is Identities of pseudonymous or anonymous individuals who have not made their identity public. It has been the historical practice of the oversight team that Soldier F met this criteria. At the moment the oversight team is discussing whether this criteria still applies, and if so how. Barkeep49 (talk) 14:45, 8 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Which would explain why Soldier F's name might be removed from article or talk space, in the absence of consensus on whether BLPNAME applies. I honestly cannot see how that would extend to redacting links to external sites, especially when those sites are themselves WP:RS including official government sites and mainstream media publications. Is the discussion private, or can anyone see what's being said? BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 17:45, 8 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I agree with Bastun, the RFC was whether or not Dave/Soldier F's full name should be included, not whether or not links to Hansard and Village Voice should be suppressed. User:Barkeep49 you have overreached in the application of oversight policy. Mztourist (talk) 03:05, 9 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Barkeep49 is not the sole oversighter responsible for the various actions taken relating to this situation. As mentioned the Oversight Team is (internally) discussing the matter. Primefac (talk) 06:51, 9 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Thanks Barkeep49 and Primefac, just so as you are aware (and for when you complete your discussions) there is an unredacted/unoversighted link in this thread to an external source naming the individual. DeCausa (talk) 06:56, 9 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi, and hope you're well! About when does the oversight team expect to reach a decision? Are you all going to post it here? Can this decision be overturned or appealed (so to speak)? If so, at which venue and how should that happen (i.e. RfC)? Thank you! Rotideypoc41352 (talk · contribs) 16:44, 10 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Given that a) it is the weekend, and b) our internal discussions take place over email, I would not expect this to be resolved super-fast. Please be patient. There is no rush or need to resolve this quickly (though of course does not imply we are going to simply ignore the issue). Primefac (talk) 16:51, 10 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Not to rush you but to put everyone on the same page, which would
hopefully give the team a break. Rotideypoc41352 (talk · contribs) 18:20, 10 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

OS Team update

After discussion, the Oversight team agrees that the name does not need to be oversighted any longer under policy. However, use of the name without consensus to do so can (and will) still be treated like a BLP violation. As with other BLP issues this is true in all namespaces (e.g. articles and talk). Further, as a BLP violation certain uses may also be appropriate for revision deletion under that policy and editors who commit the violation can be sanctioned. To answer the inevitable question, there are no plans at this time to unsuppress previous uses of the name. Barkeep49 (talk) 19:47, 12 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Thanks for that. Can we take it, then, that there is now also no question of suppressing appropriate external links to where the name is mentioned, e.g., Hansard, the record of Oireachtas debates, and Village Magazine? BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 23:08, 12 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Without comment as to whether use of any of those sources would constitute a BLP violation if used, that's correct there is no plan at this time to suppress the links. Barkeep49 (talk) 00:16, 13 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Given the above, I have added Hansard and the Village story as refs to the page. Mztourist (talk) 08:08, 13 June 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
FYI I was in the UK last week and Googled Soldier F and the Village story and various pages with Dave's full name came out in the search, so it seems that Google may not be censoring search results (if indeed they were previously). Mztourist (talk) 09:19, 19 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Frankly, this entire situation has been incredibly ridiculous. I really have no idea why this of all things has caused such a tizzy with the OS team over the years. Significant coverage in reliable sources as well as the undeniable fact that everyone in Derry knows the dude’s name, not to mention what you’ve brought up of it being easily googleable in the UK all seems to point to the fact that there is no serious “harm” caused by linking to such sources or even (frankly) just saying his name. He’ll probably die of old age within a few years anyway! Paragon Deku (talk) 08:37, 22 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

missing names[edit]

(Redacted). Why isn't it in the article? 2A00:1028:8390:C7F2:E0A8:443D:80B9:C02D (talk) 18:46, 5 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Read the multiple sections above. TL;dr version: there isn't consensus to include his name in the article. If Dave is convicted, it can certainly be included then, I would imagine. BastunĖġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ! 18:57, 5 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Introduction of the term 'Soldier F'[edit]

I don't mean to start any new discussions about whether 'Soldier F' should be named; there seems to be no new consensus on that front. But the article does not actually introduce or define the term 'Soldier F' despite using it numerous times in important contexts. This is confusing. If we are going to use this term, in quotes no less, then it should be prominently explained (in whatever manner existing consensus allows).

I would add something myself, but given the previous lengthy debate I thought it best to raise the issue with editors more familiar with the issue. Rwbogl (talk) 17:06, 15 September 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I clarified the "Soldier F" definition in the bulletpoints under the Report subheading. Mztourist (talk) 09:51, 1 November 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
@Mztourist What was your edit? It seems to have been removed since, and "Soldier F" doesn't appear in the article body any more. Cortador (talk) 07:14, 9 February 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]
@Cortador this change: [2], its still there. regards Mztourist (talk) 07:18, 9 February 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]
My search messed up, my bad. Cheers! Cortador (talk) 08:51, 9 February 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]