Wikipedia:Abuse response/Samlaptop

Abuse Response
Abuse Response
Report Status
IP Address	92.11.37.69
Contributions	Contributions
Page Moves	Page moves
Block Log	Block log
Contribution History	Contribution history
Status	Closed
Requestor	Thibbs (talk)
Date	02:24, 18 September 2009 (UTC)
Investigator	Jamesofur (talk)
Contactor	Jamesofur (talk)

The following page is an archived Abuse Response case. Please do not modify it. Subsequent reports for the same IP address should be filed under a new report. No further edits should be made to this page. Click here to file a new report. See WP:ABUSE for more information.

92.11.37.69 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)

Continual abuse from the following IPs:

95.144.0.0 - 95.151.255.255

(registered to Khalid Kamran/Orange Home UK PLC)

92.24.x.x to 92.29.x.x range

(registered to Phill Magill/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

92.0.x.x to 92.15.x.x range

(registered to Gareth J Bowen/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

89.241.x.x to 89.243.x.x range

(registered to Phill Magill/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

89.240.x.x range

(registered to Phill Magill/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

84.13.128.x to 84.13.255.x range

(registered to Phill Magill/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

78.148.x.x to 78.151.x.x range

(registered to Phill Magill/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

78.144.x.x to 78.147.x.x range

(registered to Phill Magill/Opal Telecommunications Plc)

Miscelaneous others

Other IPs of concern (used by the same vandal at simple.wiki but not at en.wiki)

List

Requester Comments

The above IPs all match the very consistent editing pattern of a persistent vandal and puppetmaster who calls himself "Samlaptop." This user has been operating at Wikipedia since October 2007, and a large number of the IPs listed above have been identified in this SPI report as IP accounts used by Samlaptop (many of these have also been self-identified by the vandal in question). His particular targets are the articles on Bop It, Windows 7, Development of Windows 7, ~~and Internet Explorer 8~~, Feather, and Duvet. While some of these articles have undergone semi-protection in the past to protect against this user (see e.g. Bop It page logs), it is completely infeasible to semi-protect articles on important future products such as Windows 7. Furthermore, while this user does make good-faith edits occasionally, his interest in vandalism of obscure and un-watched articles has proven extremely detrimental. The pride that he takes in his vandalism is quite apparent from his various user pages among other places (e.g. former userpage of User:Samlaptop85213) where he flaunts the administrative action that has been taken against him. As this user notes in the previous diff, the most common form of edit summary he leaves is "Vandalism, mmmmm.... I love vandalism."

His edits extend beyond en.wikipedia to cover simple.wikipedia (see the following simple.wikipedia reports: Feb 28, 2009 RfCU, Feb 24, 2009 AN, and Mar 19, 2009 RfCU), the Wikimedia Commons, 11 other language editions of Wikipedia, and several wikiportal projects (MarioWiki, YourWiki, etc). A quick Google search of "Samlaptop" demonstrates the fact that he is an internet-wide phenomenon known and banned on a great number of forums for persistent and relentless abuse (ex. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., etc.). Returning to en.wikipedia, and specifically relevant to contacting this user, in May and again in August of 2008, this user created a vanity page for himself in Wikipedia mainspace. The Wiki-article entitled Samuel Richard Locke has been recreated at this deletionpedia article which shows him to self-identify as a 14 year old child with autism. While I sympathize with his special needs, his pattern vandalism is unacceptable at Wikipedia and I fear that he may not be capable of restraining himself without the intervention requested here. He clearly understands what vandalism is and has been given an amazing number of "second chances" in which to reform himself, yet despite this he has decided to pursue this antisocial behavior for reasons unknown.

Below I have compiled a list of specific statistics from the two wikimedia projects: en.wikipedia and simple.wikipedia, a list of statistics from Wikimedia Commons, and I have provided a metawiki summary at the bottom. I strongly urge that action be taken against this vandal to curb the negative blocking effect he is having on other non-vandal editors that wish to edit from these ranges. Thank you. -Thibbs (talk) 15:10, 23 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Specific en.Wikipedia Stats

Specific simple.Wikipedia Stats

Specific it.Wikipedia Stats

Specific ja.Wikipedia Stats

Specific fr.Wikipedia Stats

Clean Interlanguage Wikipedia sister project accounts

Meta-Wiki Stat Total

Discussion

The pattern of IP addresses is really weird. Even IPs from the same ISP span across very wide ranges (which is unusual). In addition, the other addresses that fall outside of the main ISPs do not appear to be open proxies. I am afraid that this is going to be a tough case to tackle. Perhaps a checkuser wishes to comment on this? Chenzw Talk 14:59, 24 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It may not be as bad as all that. WHOIS reports give a contact email for abuse, and considering that the vandal has left strong clues identifying himself, it may be a simple matter for the ISP to contact the user to warn him to stop such vandalism and disruption. Considering that this appears to be a dynamic address, this user is preventing possibly helpful edits at wikipedia from others in this range, and considering how many forums he is banned from he has probably already caused the ISP's other customers problems through other range-blocks. I believe it would be a very simple matter for an investigator here to find out exactly who is causing these problems simply by using clues that are available on Google, and I think the ISP would react favorably to a suggestion that this user be warned. -Thibbs (talk) 19:14, 25 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

just a note to make sure it is know that this 'is under active investigation at the moment, I am about half way through a report and hope to have it finished within the week. If anyone has anymore info about Sam from any projects please let me know. Jamesofur (talk) 09:16, 11 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I came across this on Youtube. It seems like he likes to also document his vandalism. Interestingly, the video uses two IP addresses. Kevin Rutherford (talk) 04:42, 20 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

New idea

Sadly it looks like the ISP is dragging its heels in dealing with this pernicious character, but I think I've come up with another solution which might be much more effective.

Mr. Locke is currently a student at a school he has previously admitted to attending. Based on the time of many of his episodes of vandalism, (e.g. most recently 4:06PM Monday on Feb. 14, 2011), I think there is good reason to suspect that some of these edits are being made from school computers at school.
According to the school's ICT Acceptable Usage Policy, "[u]sers are responsible for good behaviour. Rules regarding respect for individuals (including ... the use of obscene or offensive language) apply whilst using the computers."
According to the school's e-Safety Policy, "[students with autistic spectrum disorder] may ... need increased [internet] supervison" (e-Safety Policy §2.2.4, p.7). The document goes on to say that "Complaints of internet misuse will be dealt with by an appropriate member of staff. This will usually be a SLT line Manager or Middle Leader in the first instance" (e-Safety Policy §2.2.4, p.7) and that "[s]tudent ... access to the internet can be withdrawn should it be deemed necessary by the relevant member of SLT" (e-Safety Policy §2.4.1, p.11).

Although some of the solutions that the school offers (such as contacting the police) are a little bit of an overkill in this case, I imagine that a very solid argument could be made for the revocation of Mr. Locke's internet access or at the very least for the constant supervision of Mr. Locke while he is using the internet. The school seems to place great weight on the importance of educating the child about appropriate behavior while using the internet and so the suggestion that Mr. Locke's parents should be contacted in order to gain their help in curbing this antisocial behavior might be well-received. The school can be contacted by any of the email, phone, and fax numbers presented at the school's "contacts" page, and the ICT and Enterprise Team Leader and ICT Co-ordinator can be emailed directly using forms located at the school's "Emails" page. I hope and trust that this step will finally have an impact on Mr. Locke's obnoxious behavior. -Thibbs (talk) 18:14, 14 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Update - In response to this idea, some progress was made when Samlaptop's mother was able to intercede for a period of a few months. She created a user account (User:Judey Jude) which might be a possible future contact point. -Thibbs (talk) 14:32, 20 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Contactor Report

Communication sent:	23:58, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
Reply received:	Not yet received

note, original contact made by phone, follow up by email, follow up phone call received tonight. Jamesofur (talk) 23:58, 3 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Also note, the reason the reply is still marked as not received is because they have said they will get back in touch regarding action. Jamesofur (talk) 00:11, 4 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

On the 19/02/2011, contact established with user Acather96 (talk) 17:58, 21 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Investigator Note

Additional evidence collected for ISP that I have decided is inappropriate to post on wiki at this time because of privacy concerns for a minor. Requests can be directed at myself. Jamesofur (talk) 23:58, 3 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Issue resolved, user in question has promised to stop via email - he took this course of action after I started to go forward with Thibbs to contact his school Acather96 (talk) 17:58, 21 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Case log

ARPrelim bsmithme 00:38, 11 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Opened Jamesofur (talk)
Investigation Complete Jamesofur (talk) 23:58, 3 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Case re-opened and closed, issue resolved, see above. Acather96 (talk) 17:58, 21 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The above page is an archived Abuse Response case and has been preserved for recording purposes. Please do not modify it. Subsequent reports for the same IP address should be filed under a new report. No further edits should be made to this page.