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Administrators: Please make a note if a report is dealt with, to avoid unnecessary responses by other admins.

purge Admin backlog

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Copyright:

• Copyright violations: ~42
• Unfree Flickr files: ~0
• Recent unfree Flickr images: ~2
• No license since 18 January 2026: ~28
• No permission since 18 January 2026: ~85
• No source since 18 January 2026: ~47
• Media uploaded without a license as of 2026-01: ~110

Other:

• Duplicates: ~19
• Advertisements/spam: ~53
• Personal photos/selfies: ~101
• Other speedy deletions: ~26
• Categories for discussion: 134 months
• Media requiring a split up: ~2
• Requests for unblock: ~7
• Undeletion requests: ~26

Protected edit requests:

• Full protection: ~59
• Interface admin: ~20
• Technical: ~3
• Template protection: ~6
• Protection level: ~0

See also: DR, HMS, …

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License reviews by non-image-reviewer

DEV5911 (talk · contributions · Statistics · Recent activity · block log · User rights log · uploads · Global account information) (assign permissions)

User:DEV5911 appears to be performing license reviews without holding the Image reviewer right. Saroj (talk) 15:27, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

Some of their reviews are not correct, which is a real problem. This one [1] for example, is for an image uploaded from Bollywood Hungama which has specific requirements on which images they allow to be uploaded here with a compatible license. This image is from a film set, and is from their on-the-set part of the site. The BH template which is on the image, requires images to be from parties or events, which is the parties-and-events part of the site. Ravensfire (talk) 17:09, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

I warned DEV5911 further, and deleted 2 files. All edits should be reviewed. Yann (talk) 17:52, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

@Yann, I took care of this a few hours ago and corrected the erroneous sightings. This also revealed a few more candidates for speedy deletion, as well as two regular deletion requests. Commons:Deletion requests/File:Pratik Gandhi at the premiere of Dhoom Dhaam.jpg and Commons:Deletion requests/File:Zareen Khan and others attend Karan Kundrras birthday bash.jpg. זיו「Ziv」 • For love letters and other notes 08:15, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

@Ziv: In my 2021 email exchange with the principal of BollywoodHungama following and in reference to the archived discussion Commons:Village_pump/Copyright/Archive/2020/12#Template:BollywoodHungama, the organization was not able to comprehend our requirement of confirmation of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC-BY-3.0) license in the template, as opposed to "the Creative Commons licenses" specified in his email message of 05/02/2018 05:05, as quoted by Aaron Green 02/05/2018 02:33. Those timestamps appear to correspond to the same day, 5 February 2018, in different timezones. See also Template talk:BollywoodHungama#Deprecation of Template:BollywoodHungama (!votes). Thus, {{BollywoodHungama}} is invalid.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 13:38, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

Was just coming to file a long report but looks like you are already down that rabbit hole so I will make it brief. DEV5911 was just blocked at this SPI. They are adding images to Wikipedia pages that were just uploaded not only with that account but also by Sharanjeet Gill. In the least, this is coordinated UPE, but it could also be the same person using different accounts. DEV5911 was bludgeoning the images to the mainspace despite multiple reverts. I do mainly technical stuff on Commons so not sure of the process related to SOCK images (is there a G5 tag?). --CNMall41 (talk) 20:40, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

Wow! What's a zoo! I blocked all existing accounts on Commons which were not already blocked or locked: Category:Sockpuppets of Peter181. Yann (talk) 22:21, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

Isn't there a filter which stops non-LRs from doing reviews? If not one should be created. And if there is, what is its use exactly if it isn't reporting the abuse. If it is reporting the abuse then I am sorry to say, the people supposed to act on it are very slow. This is the second such case in 2-3 days that I've seen. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 08:52, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

for the time being, the abusefilter is set to not prevent such edits but only tag them, because for example when someone uses croptool to upload a new file derived from a file with licencereview template, this edit will trigger the filter. RoyZuo (talk) 12:05, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

@RoyZuo, I don't know if it is possible, but if it is I would advise to modify the filter to, if not prevent then, atleast log them as a list that can be put for review by LRs/admins. Just like there is a list of unpatrolled edits. If it is legitimate, it can be marked as such, if not we can act against the user who does it. Maybe what I am saying is not possible, but there has to be done something about this issue. False review by non-LRs is a very big issue no matter what the scale is. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 12:29, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

@Shaan Sengupta: You can search by filter with [2]. Yann (talk) 12:55, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

Of course there is, my bad.... Well I can see a lot of such act by Nagae Iku. @Yann maybe you wanna take care of that. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 13:06, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

I don't see License review by Nagae Iku of images. They may have triggered the filter by uploading cropped versions of license-reviewed images. Yann (talk) 15:21, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

A user's resentment

Hello ; we had a discussion with User:Madboy74 on my talk page, that ended with a confession whose content, which seems to be addressed to me, is as follows:
"You are a rare, pathetic little nuisance, it seems. You can’t produce value on your own, and none of your uploads have yielded anything noteworthy, so you want to be someone through other people’s work. I feel sorry for you — it must be an awful feeling to live with that knowledge." (diff.)
I am not sure how to respond, or even if I should. hence the topic I'm opening here.
--Kontributor 2K (talk) 18:00, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done I reverted this edit, and blocked Madboy74 for 2 weeks. Inacceptable personal attack. Yann (talk) 18:07, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

Remove user rights

The user Mark Miller deceased. Global account locked with this reason. Remove his rights please. VadymTS1 (talk) 07:15, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

I've added {{Deceased Wikimedian}} on his userpage. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 08:50, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done --Yann (talk) 09:28, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

@Yann: Hi, could you please also remove the autopatrol right from his alternative account Amadscientist as well? Thanks. ShuQizhe (talk) 07:07, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done --Yann (talk) 09:23, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

@Yann also protect User:Amadscientist and User talk:Amadscientist permanently. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 09:38, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done --Lymantria (talk) 14:18, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

How to overcome the filesize limit in new-version-uploads?

When patroling new uploads I regularly see multi-page pdf-uploads (size > 100 MB) showing no thumbnail and stating "0 x 0 Pixel", such as here File:கந்தர்வன் கவிதைகள் 2002.pdf or File:ДАЧгО Р-8991-1-138 Книги реєстрації актів про смерть. Том 4 (1935) - 2.pdf. I've found a simple solution to this problem by downloading such files, then opening them in an PDF-editor and use the "optimized saving" function, which usually solves the thumbnail-problem (and somewhat reduces the file-size). However, when trying to upload the "repaired" version as a new version over the "broken" one, I regularly encounter the problem of the 100 MB filesize limit, which prevents me from uploading the repaired file. Any solution? --Túrelio (talk) 09:35, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Tracked in Phabricator
Task T356786

User talk:Rillke/bigChunkedUpload.js.

users please also look into the task. RoyZuo (talk) 13:48, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Thank you. Did indeed work, though uploads seem to be slower than "normal" uploads. --Túrelio (talk) 14:00, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

However, while the upload works, the PDF files assembled by the server also exhibit the original thumbnail problem, see File:ДАЧгО Р-8991-1-125 Книга реєстрації актів про смерть (1934).pdf and File:கந்தர்வன் கவிதைகள் 2002.pdf. --Túrelio (talk) 14:45, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

@Túrelio https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T297942#10956767 says purging helps. i purged your cyrillic example. RoyZuo (talk) 15:58, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Yes, purging helped for File:கந்தர்வன் கவிதைகள் 2002.pdf. Yann (talk) 16:14, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

that's weird. at the time i saw your comment 2 minutes before i write this, i never opened that page before, and i opened it for 1st time. it still shows me 0x0 no thumbnail. i purged it and now it shows up. that's 90 minutes after you said you purged it. RoyZuo (talk) 17:50, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

For me it was still without thumbnail etc. a moment ago (independant of browser; I opened it in 3 different browsers). However, when I opened the page and added 1 space-character to the description, after saving, thumbnails appeared immediately for both file versions. Really strange behaviour. --Túrelio (talk) 18:03, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

i just opened File:கந்தர்வன் கவிதைகள் 2002.pdf again in the same browser and it's showing me no thumbnail 0x0 again, after i had purged it at 17:50, 21 January and seen the proper thumbnail. i didnt delete my browser cache or did anything similar.

just purged it again as i write this, and it shows up again. RoyZuo (talk) 20:33, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Tracked in Phabricator
Task T301291

RoyZuo (talk) 20:38, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

File:台鐵便當 Taiwan Railways Administration (24190650225).jpg

Hi,

I do not want to start a formal deletion request for this minor issue, as the file mentioned above is generally acceptable, but the file version “01:07, June 8, 2017” must be deleted. Thankfully, user Solomon203 has already removed the problematic parts due to COM:DW. Thank you in advance. -- Msb (talk) 16:06, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done Hidden. Yann (talk) 16:15, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

In case anyone else is wondering about the red link, moved to File:TRA Taichung Railways Restaurant pork ribs rice box (24190650225).jpg. - Jmabel ! talk 20:59, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

<Name redacted>

This kid pretending to be an administrator decided that today was gonna be a good day and try to scare me, messaging me that I'm blocked. Not exactly sure why they're targeting me first. Also, I'm pretty sure their username is controversial. Hacked (Talk|Contribs) 02:18, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done Indef blocked; disruption and vandalism only (in addition to inappropriate name). -- Infrogmation of New Orleans (talk) 03:24, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

Thank you. Still curious as to why he's attacking me, but anyway. Hacked (Talk|Contribs) 03:26, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

User talk:Bot for Freedom

This bot uploads plenty of scanned datas of copyrighted books. Please See:User talk:Bot for Freedom and Commons:Library_back_up_project/file_list/SSID/2016-2019 Biáng (talk) 13:07, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

Any idea whether this exceeds 2 or 3% of its uploads? Mass upload bots like this usually have a certain number of such errors. - Jmabel ! talk 19:36, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

Upside down image

This image: File:Luàna Bajrami.jpg -- is upside down, can this be corrected? UniqueMythos (talk) 17:21, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

Convenience link: File:Luàna Bajrami.jpg. - Jmabel ! talk 19:32, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

Does not look upside down to me. The top of her head is at the top of the picture. - Jmabel ! talk 19:33, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

The EXIF's orientation field does indeed state "Rotate 180", so the image may be upside down for certain browsers. I tried to reset it using RotateBot but it didn't work, so perhaps it needs to be done manually. Thanks. Tvpuppy (talk) 12:44, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

Continuation of duplicate DRs and possible block evasion

The issue has been reported recently about two users making repeated mutual deletion requests, and the two users have been temporarily blocked as a result, see [3]. Now a new user has appeared whose username resembles the user name of one of the previously blocked users and who is targeting the same files with duplicate deletion requests: Alvaradohn (talk · contributions · Statistics · Recent activity · block log · User rights log · uploads · Global account information) (assign permissions). See diff for example. Nakonana (talk) 19:59, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

 Done, blocked indef Ymblanter (talk) 06:08, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

Please see Commons:Requests for checkuser/Case/Carlosarevalohn. Yann (talk) 09:51, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

Licensing Review Request - File:IAF crest.png

Hello I am requesting an admin review of the deletion tag on File:IAF crest.png. The stated reason for deletion was "current license is clearly bogus" The licensing has now been corrected. It is now licensed under Template:PD-India with the Government of India as author. Under the Indian Copyright Law, Government works published before 1 January 1966 are now in public domain as their license has expired and are covered under Template:PD-India. You may refer to COM:INDIA Thank you HunterdeltaX15 (talk) 18:55, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

January 1950 is when the Indian Air force was established. Even if we take that date, this entered in PD 2010. So it indeed is in PD in source country, i.e. India. But what about URAA? Was it PD on URAA date (1 January 1996)? No. So it cannot yet be hosted here. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 04:52, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

That's Incorrect, the Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932. Kindly refer to the official page https://indianairforce.nic.in/history-timeline HunterdeltaX15 (talk) 09:23, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

@HunterdeltaX15, that was Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) and not the Indian Air Force (IAF). RIAF was the air force of British Indian Empire (1932–1947) and then the air force of the Dominion of India (1947–1950). For the Republic of India, IAF was established in Jan 1950 when Dominion became republic. RIAF had File:Royal Indian Air Force.svg. Jan 1950 can be considered the earliest possible time when IAF replaced the crown with Ashoka emblem. Hope this clears the confusion. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 10:15, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

The IAF crest consists primarily of standard heraldic elements (eagle wings, Ashoka lion capital, wreath, and text) in a straightforward arrangement with no significant creative expression. It falls below the U.S. threshold of originality required for copyright protection (see Commons:Threshold of originality and examples like File:United States Army Central CSIB.svg). As such, it is not copyrightable in the United States, so URAA restoration does not apply. Combined with its PD status in India (as a government edict/emblem over 60 years old), the file qualifies for PD-India and should be kept. HunterdeltaX15 (talk) 14:23, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

For reference see File:United States Army Central CSIB.svg, Commons:Threshold of originality HunterdeltaX15 (talk) 14:24, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

No. Neither the eagle wings nor the Ashoka emblem are below COM:TOO US or COM:TOO India. The reason I mentioned Ashoka Emblem was to differentiate between RIAF and IAF. As I said, if for once we consider IAF establishment date as the logo's first publication date, then by that logic the logo will be PD in India since 2011 but not in US bcoz of URAA. And we don't work on assumption but proof. Also, if you believe the IAF logo and the file you linked are on the same parameter, and the IAF logo is below COM:TOO US, I've nothing more to say. I am off this thread now. You may proceed the way you want. Also, this is the most redressal you can get here. Let the DR decide now. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 15:11, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for your time. Appreciate that HunterdeltaX15 (talk) 17:11, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

Deletions needed for file moves

Can an administrator handle the 4 Ohio road sign moves requested in Category:Media requiring renaming - target already exists? Thank you for your time. Geoffroi 19:46, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

3 declined, 1 moved. Abzeronow (talk) 01:56, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

A discussion on COM:VPP

To anyone interested, we need experienced users to help at Commons:Village pump/Proposals#Adding a thing in block notices. Shaan Sengupta^Talk 04:54, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

Category showing non-existent sub-subcategories

Some of the character subcategories on Category:Cosplay of Helluva Boss are showing non-existent subcategories of their own. I tried null-editing both Category:Cosplay of Helluva Boss and its subcategories, but it didn't fix it. Can this be fixed? Oornery (talk) 00:20, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

@Oornery It usually happens after a category page is moved, purging the category page that was moved should fix it. I have purge them all and the subcats now appears to be displaying correctly. Thanks. Tvpuppy (talk) 01:55, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

Similar topic (if I may hijack this thread): what needs to be purged for the individual people categories in Category:Recipients of the Medal of Courage to not be listed there anymore but in Category:Recipients of the Medal of Courage (Israel)? I've purged everything I could think of, have tried to move them with Cat-a-lot (which says the old category could not be found), have changed the category on Wikidata manually (and purged the Wikidata items)...

If one checks the individual people categories, it says that they already are in the Israel category, yet they are still listed on the disambiguation page... Nakonana (talk) 19:50, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

@Nakonana In this case, where the parent category is changed by a template or through Wikidata, you would need to null edit (submit edit without editing anything) the subcategory page to update its parent category. Thanks. Tvpuppy (talk) 22:21, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

User uploading copyvios, deleting captions and replacing them with nonsense

Morocc12s (talk · contribs) seems at best very confused, but could also be someone who is just here for vandalism. Can an admin please intervene and determine if this is a competence issue or an intentions one? —Justin (koavf)❤T☮C☺M☯ 07:26, 25 January 2026 (UTC)

It would help if someone who can read Arabic would have a look. Pinging @Dyolf77, علاء, Aude. - Jmabel ! talk 18:51, 25 January 2026 (UTC)