We are appending a few rules to our previous policy, this applies to all users, upper structure all the way down to the lowliest of civs.

We will not tolerate, under punishment of death and/or banning of the offending member and/or upper structure any of the following:

Demands to provide any in real life private information for identity verification purposes is off limits. (Name, email, phone number, facebook and so on).

Demands to provide 3rd party messenger names, other website logins, or alternative online nicks, handles or identities for verification.

Demands of any member to use any 3rd party website, tool or app for any purpose.

Using any technique, tool or service to provide geolocation, fingerprinting, or any identifiers for verification.

Violation of the above policy will result in termination of the offending member, and/or upper structure of the family depending on the position of the offender.

Our old policy: To stop a very worrying trend, we are creating a new policy to stop the demands on users to provide personal private details in order to play the game.

Demands to provide any private information for identity verification purposes is off limits.

Demands to provide screenshots or copy/pastes of any information that is not publicly viewable.

Demands to provide 3rd party messenger names for verification (aim/icq/msn and so on)

Demands to provide IRC verification of IRC connection info (hostmask/ip/gecos/ident and so on.)

Violation of the above policy will result in termination of the offending member, and/or upper structure of the family depending on the position of the offender.

There is a lot of grey area here, I know this... so I hope that cooler heads prevail and this policy never has to be enforced. It is not to be used as a weapon against crew leaders, it is simply a way to retain your personal privacy without intimidation or extreme consequences by saying no.

From: https://mafiareturns.com/comm/thread/287721

Just so I'm clear.

"Hey, we have a WhatsApp group if you'd like to get join." --> Okay.

"Hey, you have to join the WhatsApp or you'll be killed off." --> Not okay.

"Hey, you have to join the WhatsApp or you'll be held back." --> Not okay.

Am I correct in understanding what you mean by "demands" for information?

I think its pretty easy to see when something is malicious, and when its not.  When something is legit not required, versus required.  When something is 'mandatory volunteered information' vrs not.  WhatsApp groups are great for quick and easy information, however, if someone doesn't join, if they are looked down upon and receive any negative treatment because of it, then there is a problem.

I too would like some clarification on that; if people are willingly going to a 3rd party site (be it Google Docs, an IA list, a SR Form) - it doesn't qualify as them being demanded to do so, correct? 

I view google docs as OK.  To my knowledge, google sheets does not give identifying information, outside of the users account logged in as, so you are able to do so anonymously, with a 2nd google name.

If its on a 3rd party site thats NOT gdocs, like a custom written website at some other URL, then access to it needs to be optional, with no consequences what so ever for not using it.

Shot reports can be submitted via mobmail.

The demand part comes into play when its required, or 'understood to be required' or 'there are negative impacts if you dont' type thing.

Elsewhere you have previously said with regards to due diligence with trading credits or sending people money. Say someone joined up and said they were an old friend and wanted some start up cash, in this type of scenario could we ask for these things to prove they are who they say they are?

If you are unable to tell if its a friend by your conversation and can not figure out any other way to confirm their identity other than to violate the rules set up above, then its best not to do it.

I think there are ways to see if its your friend while staying within the spirit of this policy.