New IRC-network team FreeNode expressed regret about the incident yesterday, which was perceived by some communities as capturing them IRC channels. For example, about leaving Freenode due to loss of control over their channels, the projects Ubuntu , Gentoo , HardenedBSD , libreelec FSFE and Void Linux .
After the departure of the administrators team, based on the new Libera.chat network due to the conflict with the domain owner, some open projects transferred discussions on the Libera.chat platform and blocked the possibility of communication in old channels. Administration Freenode considered unacceptable actions taken that do not give the opportunity to users to continue communication on old channels due to the configuration of bots that automatically delete users with The message that the channel moved to the Libera.chat network. According to Freenode, it was enough to simply withdraw a message about moving without blocking.
Freenode representatives considered the blocking by the coercion of users who did not want to leave the old network, and made changes to the rules, prohibiting such blocking users of the channels. In case of blocking the possibility of communication, the new rules prescribed the closure of the channel and redirect users’ connection to another thematic channel.
For the channels blocked, the channels were written a script that creates a new channel in another namespace “##” (for example, ## Ubuntu instead of #ubuntu) and automatically redirects to this channel of users trying to connect to the old canal.
The problem was that the new Freenode team properly tested this script before implementation, pre-notified about the upcoming change of users (there was a discussion only in Nishev Channel # Freenode-Policy-Feedback) and did not take into account all the nuances.
The script determined the migration of the channel for the presence of the Libera line in the channel header, but it was missed that many still remaining in Freenode projects were only at the stage of discussing migration to a new network and, accordingly, mention Libera in the channel. Script Created Mirrors in the new namespace and for these channels and began to make users to another channel, which caused a wave of indignations and accusations In capturing channels.
More fluctuated about the migration of the community were forced to go to a new network, as they lost control over their channels in the FreeDe network. The Freenode administration began work on the return of the channels after complaints, but it was already late and the network reputation was injured.