RevisionDelete (MediaWiki)

RevisionDelete (MediaWiki)

Introduction

`RevisionDelete` is a powerful MediaWiki extension that allows administrators and users with appropriate permissions to suppress, or delete, revisions of pages. Unlike a standard deletion, which permanently removes a page's history, `RevisionDelete` offers a more nuanced approach, allowing for granular control over what parts of a revision are hidden from public view. This is crucial for handling sensitive information, vandalism, copyright violations, or personal data that may inadvertently appear in a wiki's history. Understanding `RevisionDelete` is essential for maintaining the integrity, privacy, and legal compliance of any MediaWiki-based site. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to the extension, covering its functionality, configuration, usage, and best practices. It’s designed for beginners with limited technical knowledge.

Understanding Revision Control in MediaWiki

Before diving into `RevisionDelete`, it's important to understand how MediaWiki manages revisions. Every edit made to a page is saved as a *revision*. Each revision contains the full text of the page at that point in time, along with metadata like the editor's username, the timestamp, a change summary, and flags indicating minor edits or automated changes by bots. This complete history allows users to view past versions of a page, compare changes, and revert to earlier states. This is a fundamental feature of wikis, enabling collaboration and accountability. However, this detailed history can sometimes contain information that needs to be protected or removed. Help:Page history details the standard page history feature.

Why Use RevisionDelete?

Standard page deletion is a drastic measure. It completely removes a page and its history, which can be undesirable in several situations:

**Vandalism:** While vandalism should be reverted, retaining the vandalized revision (suppressed) can be helpful for identifying and blocking the vandal. Analyzing vandalism patterns is a key aspect of Vandalism prevention.
**Copyright Violations:** If copyrighted material is added to a page, deleting the entire page history might be overkill. `RevisionDelete` allows you to remove only the infringing content while preserving the rest of the page's history. Understanding Copyright law is crucial in these cases.
**Privacy Concerns:** Personal information (PII) accidentally included in a page needs to be removed quickly. `RevisionDelete` provides a way to do this without losing the legitimate content of the page. The principles of Data privacy are paramount here.
**Defamation/Libel:** If a page contains defamatory statements, `RevisionDelete` can be used to suppress those statements while keeping the page itself intact. Libel law considerations are important.
**Test Edits/Development:** During wiki development or testing, unwanted revisions can be suppressed.
**Accidental Information Disclosure:** Mistakes happen. `RevisionDelete` allows quick correction of unintentional publishing of sensitive data.

Installation and Configuration

`RevisionDelete` is not a core MediaWiki extension; it needs to be installed separately.

1. **Download the Extension:** Download the latest version of `RevisionDelete` from the MediaWiki Extensions repository. 2. **Upload to the Extensions Directory:** Upload the downloaded archive to your MediaWiki's `extensions/` directory. 3. **Configure `LocalSettings.php`:** Add the following line to your `LocalSettings.php` file:

```php wfLoadExtension( 'RevisionDelete' ); ```

4. **Permissions:** Configure user permissions in `LocalSettings.php` or through the Special:UserRights page. The following rights are relevant:

   *   `revdelete`: Allows a user to delete revisions.
   *   `revdelete-log`: Allows a user to view the revision deletion log.
   *   `revdelete-suppress`: Allows a user to suppress revisions, preventing them from being viewed even by administrators (use with extreme caution!).

5. **Configuration Options:** Several configuration options are available to customize `RevisionDelete`'s behavior. These can be set in `LocalSettings.php`. Some key options include:

   *   `$wgRevDeleteDisplayReason`:  Whether to require a reason for each deletion.
   *   `$wgRevDeleteConfirm`:  Whether to require confirmation before deleting revisions.
   *   `$wgRevDeleteBatch`: Allows batch deletion of revisions.
   *   `$wgRevDeleteAnon`:  Controls how anonymous user revisions are handled.

Using RevisionDelete: The Interface

`RevisionDelete` is primarily accessed through the Special:RevisionDelete page. To use it, you need the `revdelete` permission. The interface allows you to:

**Select a Page:** Enter the page title you want to work with.
**Choose Revisions:** Select the specific revisions you want to delete. You can select individual revisions, a range of revisions, or all revisions.
**Specify Deletion Options:** `RevisionDelete` offers several deletion options, also known as *deletion types*. These determine what parts of the revision are hidden:

   *   **Suppress content:**  Hides the revision's content from public view.  This is the most common option.
   *   **Suppress revision as vandalism:**  Suppresses the revision and logs it as vandalism.
   *   **Suppress editor:** Hides the editor's username.  Useful for protecting the identity of editors who have made sensitive contributions.
   *   **Suppress log entries:**  Hides log entries related to the revision (e.g., page protection logs).
   *   **Suppress tags:** Hides tags associated with the revision (e.g., "minor edit" flag).
   *   **Archive:** Moves the revision to an archive, making it inaccessible to most users.
   *   **Delete:** Completely removes the revision. This is irreversible without access to the database.

**Provide a Reason:** Always provide a clear and concise reason for the deletion. This is crucial for auditing and accountability. A good reason will clearly state why the revision was deleted (e.g., "Removed PII," "Copyright violation," "Vandalism").
**Submit the Deletion:** Once you've selected the revisions, deletion options, and provided a reason, submit the deletion.

Understanding Deletion Types in Detail

The choice of deletion type is critical. Here's a detailed breakdown of each:

**Suppress content:** This is the most frequently used option. It hides the text of the revision from public view. The revision still exists in the database, but it's not displayed in the page history, search results, or diffs. This is ideal for removing sensitive information, vandalism, or copyright violations without losing the historical record entirely. Think of it as a "soft delete."
**Suppress revision as vandalism:** This option is similar to "Suppress content," but it also marks the revision as vandalism. This can be helpful for tracking and analyzing vandalism activity.
**Suppress editor:** This hides the username of the editor who made the revision. This is useful for protecting the privacy of editors who have made sensitive contributions or who are targets of harassment. However, it can also hinder accountability.
**Suppress log entries:** This hides log entries related to the revision, such as page protection logs or edit summaries. This can be useful for obscuring actions taken in response to the revision.
**Suppress tags:** This hides tags associated with the revision, such as the "minor edit" flag.
**Archive:** This option moves the revision to a separate archive table in the database. It's still accessible to administrators, but it's not included in the regular page history. This is useful for preserving revisions that are no longer relevant but might be needed for future reference.
**Delete:** This is the most drastic option. It permanently removes the revision from the database. This is irreversible without database backups and should be used only in extreme cases. Consider the implications before using this option.

Viewing Deleted Revisions

Deleted revisions are not completely inaccessible. Administrators with the `revdelete-log` permission can view deleted revisions through the Special:Log page, filtering by "revdelete" events. This log shows who deleted which revisions, when, and why. Administrators can also view the content of suppressed revisions directly through the `RevisionDelete` interface.

The RevisionDelete Log

The Special:Log page provides a detailed history of all revision deletion actions. This log is crucial for:

**Auditing:** Tracking who deleted which revisions and why.
**Accountability:** Ensuring that deletion actions are justified and appropriate.
**Troubleshooting:** Investigating potential errors or misuse of the `RevisionDelete` extension.

Best Practices for Using RevisionDelete

**Always provide a reason:** A clear and concise reason for each deletion is essential for auditing and accountability.
**Use the least restrictive option:** Choose the deletion type that achieves your goal with the least amount of disruption to the page's history. "Suppress content" is often the best choice.
**Document your actions:** Keep a record of all deletion actions, including the page title, revision IDs, deletion options, and reasons.
**Be cautious with "Suppress editor":** Hiding the editor's username can hinder accountability. Use this option only when necessary to protect privacy.
**Avoid "Delete" unless absolutely necessary:** This is an irreversible action.
**Regularly review the RevisionDelete log:** Monitor deletion activity to ensure that the extension is being used appropriately.
**Train administrators:** Ensure that all administrators who have access to `RevisionDelete` are properly trained on its functionality and best practices.
**Consider database backups:** Regular database backups are essential for recovering from accidental deletions or other data loss events.
**Understand legal implications:** Be aware of the legal implications of deleting or suppressing content, particularly in relation to copyright, defamation, and privacy.

Advanced Techniques and Considerations

**Batch Deletion:** The `$wgRevDeleteBatch` configuration option enables batch deletion of revisions, which can be useful for cleaning up large amounts of vandalism or copyright violations.
**API Integration:** `RevisionDelete` provides an API for automating deletion tasks.
**Database Access:** While generally discouraged, direct database access can be used to recover deleted revisions in emergency situations. However, this should be done only by experienced administrators.
**External Tools:** Several external tools can help manage and analyze revision deletion data.
**Content moderation strategies:** `RevisionDelete` is a key tool in a broader content moderation strategy.
**Spam detection and removal:** Suppression can be used for persistently adding spam.
**Conflict resolution on sensitive topics:** `RevisionDelete` can help manage contentious edits.
**Information security best practices:** `RevisionDelete` is a component of a comprehensive information security plan.
**Change management process:** Deletion should be part of a controlled change management process.
**Risk assessment for data breaches:** `RevisionDelete` mitigates the risk of data breaches.
**Technical debt management**: Address issues before needing to suppress content.
**Root cause analysis**: Investigate why sensitive content appeared in the first place.
**Data governance policies**: Establish clear rules for handling sensitive information.
**Audit trails**: Maintain detailed logs of all deletion activities.
**Compliance requirements**: Ensure adherence to relevant laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
**Incident response plan**: Have a plan for handling data breaches or other security incidents.
**Data lifecycle management**: Define policies for retaining and deleting data.
**Access control lists**: Restrict access to sensitive data and deletion tools.
**Security awareness training**: Educate users about data security and privacy.
**Vulnerability scanning**: Regularly scan for security vulnerabilities.
**Penetration testing**: Simulate attacks to identify weaknesses in the system.
**Network segmentation**: Isolate sensitive data from the rest of the network.
**Encryption**: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.
**Multi-factor authentication**: Require multiple forms of authentication for access to sensitive systems.
**Regular expression usage for identifying PII** – proactively scan for sensitive data.
**Machine learning algorithms for automated content moderation** – augment human review.

Conclusion

`RevisionDelete` is an invaluable tool for maintaining the integrity, privacy, and legal compliance of any MediaWiki-based site. By providing granular control over what parts of a revision are hidden from public view, it allows administrators to address sensitive issues without resorting to drastic measures like complete page deletion. Understanding its functionality, configuration, and best practices is crucial for anyone responsible for managing a MediaWiki wiki. Proper use of `RevisionDelete` contributes to a safer, more reliable, and more trustworthy online environment.

Manual:Configuration Manual:Extension installation Help:API Special:UserRights Special:Log Help:Page history Copyright law Data privacy Libel law Vandalism prevention Content moderation

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