During the WikiArabia conference, an organizer highlighted the need to add a key feature to the Wikimedia event management tool: **participant eligibility criteria**. This feature would give organizers greater flexibility by allowing them to define specific conditions that users must meet to register for an event. By default, if no criteria are activated, the event remains open to all participants.
**Requested Feature: Eligibility Criteria**
**Objective**
Enable organizers to restrict access to specific events based on user characteristics, such as their Wikimedia activity or account age, to ensure relevant and meaningful participation.
**Proposed Criteria**
# **Languages**: Restrict access to users proficient in one or more specific languages (e.g., Arabic, French, English).
# **Number of edits**: Set a minimum threshold of Wikimedia edits for participation.
# **Account age**: Require accounts to have been created for a minimum duration (e.g., at least 6 months or 1 year).
# **No recent bans**: Ensure that the user has not been banned in the last X months.
**Usage Scenario**
When creating an event, organizers would see a new section titled "**Eligibility Criteria**". They can choose to enable or disable the criteria and specify the conditions they wish to apply. By default, if no criteria are defined, the event remains open to all.
2. **Registration Process**
When the user clicks on the Register button:
# The system retrieves the event's eligibility criteria.
# The user's profile data is verified through Wikimedia APIs (language, number of edits, account age, ban status).
# Criteria Validation:
-- **Language**: Checks if at least one of the user’s languages matches the criteria.
-- **Number of edits**: Compares the user’s total edits to the defined threshold.
-- **Account age**: Calculates the time elapsed since the account’s creation.
--**Ban status**: Verifies the user’s recent ban history.
# If the user meets the criteria, they are registered for the event.
# In case of failure, a clear message is displayed explaining why the registration was denied.
**Messages Shown to Users**
- **Language**: "You do not meet the language criteria required for this event."
- **Number of edits**: "You have not reached the minimum threshold of [X] edits."
- **Account age**: "Your account must be at least [Y] months old to participate."
- **No recent bans**: "Your account is not eligible due to a recent ban."
**Benefits for the Community**
# Improved participant management: Organizers can ensure participants align with the event's goals.
# Ease of use: The criteria are optional and do not complicate the creation of standard events.
# Fairness: The criteria enhance transparency and inclusiveness while maintaining the quality of Wikimedia events.
This proposal, raised during WikiArabia, has the potential to significantly enhance the experience for both organizers and participants across the Wikimedia community.