View source for Wiki143:Bot Approvals Group

{{Short description|Oversees most areas and processes dealing with bots on Wikipedia}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{botnav}}

[[File:BAG laurier.svg|100px|thumb|right|Unofficial BAG laurier]]

{{shortcut|WP:BAG}}

The '''Bot Approvals Group''' ('''BAG''') oversees most areas and processes dealing with [[Wikipedia:Bots|bots on Wikipedia]]. Individual BAG members are tasked to [[Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval|approve or deny]] the various bot tasks submitted by both new and old bot operators. However, only [[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats|bureaucrats]] are [[Special:UserRights|capable/entrusted]] to [[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats#Bot_flags|flag]] bots, and only [[Wikipedia:Administrators|administrators]] are capable/entrusted to [[Wikipedia:Block|block]] malfunctioning or misbehaving bots. While some BAG members (listed below) are also admins or bureaucrats, the roles of the BAG should not be confused with that of bureaucrats or admins. BAG members are trusted to understand [[Wikipedia:Bot policy|Wikipedia's bot policy]], and to offer sound bot-related advice to bot operators, admins, bureaucrats, and editors alike. BAG members are often bot operators themselves, but this is not a formal requirement for BAG membership.

The BAG has an official IRC channel on [[Libera Chat]] at '''[[liberachat:wikipedia-en-bag|#wikipedia-en-bag]]'''. The channel is open to everyone, so feel free to join, ask questions and idle if you wish (BAG members are voiced). EarwigBot also reports a recent changes feed of [[Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval|BRFA]]-related pages into the channel for your convenience.

== Membership ==
=== Joining ===
Those interested in joining the group should make a nomination and post it to [[Wikipedia talk:Bot Approvals Group|the talk page]],  with notices to relevant community noticeboards to invite community participation (specifically [[WP:AN]], [[WP:VPM]], [[WT:BOTPOL]], and [[WP:BON]]), explaining why they would be a good member of the team and outlining past bot-related experience. After seven days, an uninvolved bureaucrat will close the discussion.

=== Activity requirements ===
The activity levels on the member list (active, semi-active, inactive) are informal and used to help identify members current availability.

Following a 2018 RfC it was concluded that BAG members are expected to be active on Wikipedia to have their finger on the pulse of the community. After two years without any bot-related activity (such as posting on [[:Category:Wikipedia bots|bot-related pages]], posting on a bot's talk page,  or operating a bot), BAG members will be retired from BAG following a one-week notice. Retired members can re-apply for BAG membership as normal if they wish to rejoin the BAG.<ref>[[Special:PermaLink/874067212#Should BAG members have an activity requirement?|2018 RfC: Should BAG members have an activity requirement?]]</ref>

===Member list===
{| class="wikitable plainlinks sortable"
|+ BAG members
|-
! User !! Activity !! [[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats|'crat]]? !! [[Wikipedia:administrators|Admin]]? !! Joined !!Notes
|-
|{{user|DreamRimmer}}
|Active
|
|
|[[Special:Diff/1271775681|2025-01-25]]
|
|-
|{{user|Headbomb}}
|Active
|
|
|[[Special:Diff/427221450|2011-05-03]]
|
|-
|{{user|NaomiAmethyst}}
|Active
|
|Yes
|[[Special:Diff/164861692|2007-10-16]]
|[[Wikipedia:Requests for BAG membership/NaomiAmethyst|Reconfirmed]] on 2008-04-27.
|-
|{{user|Primefac}}
|Active
|Yes
|Yes
|[[Special:Diff/873269498|2018-12-12]]
|
|-
|{{user|ProcrastinatingReader}}
|Active
|
|
|[[Special:PermaLink/990471881|2020-11-24]]
|
|-
|{{user|SD0001}}
|Active
|
|Yes
|[[Special:PermaLink/990471888|2020-11-24]]
|
|-
|{{user|TheSandDoctor}}
|Active
|
|Yes
|[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Bot_Approvals_Group/nominations/TheSandDoctor&oldid=879495643 2019-01-21]
|
|-
|{{user|Xaosflux}}
|Active
|Yes
|Yes
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Bots/Approvals_group&diff=next&oldid=66078879 2006-07-27]
|
|-
|{{user|Anomie}}
|Semi-active
|
|Yes
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Bot_Approvals_Group/nominations/Anomie&diff=258354320&oldid=257872522 2008-12-16]
| Around and watching things, but not extremely active. Ping if needed.
|-
|{{user|Hellknowz}}
|Semi-active
|
|
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia%3ABot_Approvals_Group%2Fnominations%2FHellknowz&action=historysubmit&diff=403162831&oldid=401510936 2010-12-19]
|Around, but not actively participating
|-
|{{user|Cyberpower678}}
|Semi-active
|
|Yes
|[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia%3ABot_Approvals_Group%2Fnominations%2FCyberpower678_3&type=revision&diff=790845370&oldid=790692185 2017-07-16]
| Works on unclaimed BRFAs, and on claimed ones on request.
|-
|{{user|MusikAnimal}}
|Semi-Active
|
|Yes
|[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Bot_Approvals_Group/nominations/MusikAnimal&oldid=755093583 2016-12-16]
|
|-
|{{user|The Earwig}}
|Semi-active
|
|Yes
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Bot_Approvals_Group/nominations/The_Earwig&diff=prev&oldid=343080466 2010-02-10]
|
|}

Former members are [[/Former|found on a subpage]].

==See also==
* {{tl|BAG Tools}}
* {{tl|Unapproved bot account}}
* {{tl|BAG-notice}}
* {{tl|BAG topicon}}
* [[User:SQL/How to close a BRFA|How to close a BRFA]]
* [[Wikipedia:Bot Approvals Group/Successful membership candidacies]]
* [[Wikipedia:Bot Approvals Group/Unsuccessful membership candidacies]]
* [[Wikipedia:Bots/Spam|Bots newsletter spam list]]
* [[Wikipedia:Bot Approvals Group/Guide|Bot Approvals Group's Guide]]

== Notes ==
<references />


{{Wikipedia technical help|collapsed}}
{{Wikipedia accounts|collapsed}}
[[Category:Wikipedia bots]]