I re-second the amended version of this proposal. Bill
On Mon, Jul 27, 2026 at 03:49:59PM +0100, Ian Jackson wrote:
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> Thanks for the feedback. I hereby amend my proposal.
>
> (Technically, I am proposing and accepting an amendment. AIUI people
> who already seconded my version can choose to withdraw their second,
> but remain seconders by default. I have CC'd the seconders.)
>
> After listening to what people have said so far, I think my paragraph
> 8 (about translations etc.) is too much of a can of worms. I think
> this is probably best dealt with on a forum-by-forum basis by the
> moderators. If anyone would prefer the version with paragraph 8,
> please do say. If there whoa sufficient support, we could have both
> on the ballot.
>
> I've included scope for moderators to make exceptions. I take Sean's
> point that this risks undermining a critical point - hence the "narrow
> and tailored" wording. In practice with a resolution like this we
> need to trust the moderators, CT, DAM, etc., to honour its spirit.
> To my mind the intent is quine clear about the ethics, even if the
> operative sections are more woolly.
>
> Changes:
>
> - Delete paragraph 8 ("may write in their native language").
>
> - New paragraph 4a with a narrow exception-making power for
> admins/mods.
>
> - Write "Codes of Conduct" and "the relevant Code of Conduct".
>
> - Fixed some typos found by ispell.
>
> I have retained the paragraph numbering to help keep the discussion
> clear. I hope the Secretary will be able to renumber them when the
> time comes and the ballot options are final. Kurt, please LMK if
> you'd prefer me to renumber them myself right away.
>
> - -8<- BEGIN PROPOSAL
>
> [ EDITORIAL NOTE FOR THE SECRETARY: When transposing this into an
> actual ballot, please renumber paragraphs and delete this note. ]
>
> BACKGROUND
>
> LLMs have many serious problems, including: undermining the mechanisms
> of free software community building; environmental damage;
> exploitation of authors; disruption to open web hosting by
> aggressive scraping; generation and promulgation of bullshit,
> polluting the information commons; hazards to users' mental health;
> economic bubbles and distortion of the computer hardware market;
> fraud; ownership by horrible people and companies; and so on.
> Ethical and safe use of this technology is almost impossible.
>
> Ideally, LLM output should not form any part of software that we rely
> on, nor should LLM output ever take the place of human-written prose.
>
> Unfortunately some of the wider software world, including many of our
> upstreams, take a different view. Therefore a complete ban on LLM
> output as part of Debian is currently impractical.
>
> REQUESTS
>
> 1. We request that all contributors to Debian avoid the use of LLMs in
> their Debian work.
>
> 2. We request that all decisionmakers within Debian discourage LLM use
> as much as practical. Practicality is a judgement call and we
> recognise that it will involve uncomfortable compromises.
>
> 3. We request that everyone, even outside Debian, should refrain from
> using this technology. In particular, the Free Software and Open
> Source communities should reject LLMs. We recognise that not
> everyone will heed this call.
>
> REQUIREMENTS (SUPPLEMENT TO THE CODES OF CONDUCT)
>
> 4. Within Debian, messages to humans (including for example bug
> reports, mailing list messages, discussions on Salsa, and blog
> posts on Planet Debian) must be drafted solely by humans without
> LLM assistance.
>
> 4a. Moderators and disciplinary teams may make narrow and tailored
> exceptions to rule 4, and decide on interpretation.
>
> 5. Any use of LLMs for Debian work must be disclosed.
>
> 6. Individual projects and maintainers may ban LLM contributions
> completely. Such bans (including by upstream projects) must be
> respected.
>
> 7. Violations of these requirements should be treated as violations of
> the relevant Code of Conduct and should result in swift and
> proportionate disciplinary action.
>
> - ->8- END PROPOSAL
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