Data Working Group 2018 Q3 Case Report
Background
The Data Working Group (DWG) filed 346 cases for the time period from 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018.
A feature on the OpenStreetMap Wbsite that allows direct reporting of issues through the site was rolled
out this quarter, so the number of issues cannot directly be compared, and the work involved in a typicalissue has also changed.
Some inquiries were handled quickly without any official action on the Data Working Group’s part–usually
due to the inquiry not falling under the purview of the Data Working Group.
Generally, when a complaint is brought to the DWG, the complainant is asked to first open dialogue withthe user in question. This is accomplished through the channels of changeset discussions, forum and mailinglist posts, or private messages as a last resort. DWG members may also choose to become directly involvedin this communication immediately; otherwise, they will wait for a response from the user. Changeset
discussions are viewable by everyone and are preferred as other OSM users can also provide input and sothat the communication trail can be established.
If a user is unresponsive after a period of time but continues to edit the map, they will often be given a
0 hour block. This block requires them to log into the OSM website and read the block message set by a
DWG member. In some cases, a user performing large-scale edits or using incompatible data sources may
be blocked immediately to provide a pause for analysis and limit the amount of data added to the database.
Data that are found to be in conflict with the OSM license or community standards of practice may
be reverted either by a DWG member or by a member of the community if requested. Data may also
be redacted completely from the database, especially for egregious copyright violations. Occasionally the
DWG receives requests or complaints from the general public through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
compliance email address; correctly mapped data is usually not modified, but small changes in classifications
or representation may be made by DWG members.
In every case, the DWG gives mappers the benefit of the doubt and that they are acting with goodintentions. Complaints may indeed be ruled as unfounded or incorrect if the alleged is correctly mapping.
Perhaps the features added are very new, and a user surveyed that data but did not indicate this in theirchangeset. Alternatively, the user may be adding survey data from a holiday a few weeks prior that was
greatly removed from their home. In these instances, tickets are closed out and no further action is taken.

1Case list

2

Created2018-07-01 15:13
2018-07-01 21:37
2018-07-02 13:30
2018-07-02 17:41
2018-07-04 06:43
2018-07-04 13:06
2018-07-04 15:33
2018-07-05 10:45
2018-07-07 19:12
2018-07-08 13:46
2018-07-09 06:53
2018-07-09 15:22
2018-07-10 10:02
2018-07-10 13:55
2018-07-10 13:59
2018-07-10 17:13
2018-07-11 00:34
2018-07-11 17:17
2018-07-12 15:40
2018-07-12 15:54
2018-07-12 22:44
2018-07-12 23:01
2018-07-12 23:15
2018-07-13 06:26
2018-07-14 09:35
2018-07-14 12:27
2018-07-15 04:37
2018-07-15 11:05
2018-07-16 13:17
2018-07-16 19:53
2018-07-17 09:44
2018-07-17 12:11
2018-07-17 15:49
2018-07-18 04:49
2018-07-18 12:06
2018-07-18 22:38
2018-07-19 06:38
2018-07-19 19:29
2018-07-19 19:37
2018-07-19 19:49
2018-07-19 21:55
2018-07-20 08:50
2018-07-20 15:23
2018-07-21 06:02
2018-07-22 18:19
2018-07-22 19:36
2018-07-22 21:40
2018-07-22 22:01
2018-07-22 22:14
2018-07-22 22:23
2018-07-22 22:33
2018-07-23 05:46
2018-07-23 07:59
2018-07-23 11:44

Type
other
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
international dispute
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
other
undiscussed mechanical edit
undiscussed or other problematic importspam or poor mapping
general request for information
othermisdirected request for changes outside OSM
request for technical help e.g. revert
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
undiscussed mechanical edit
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessgeneral request for information
request to remove personal data found in OSM
request for technical help e.g. revert
request for technical help e.g. revert
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappingotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
import from potentially incompatible source
user conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessotherRegionAlgeria
Worldwide
USA
Malaysia
South China Sea
BrazilPolandIndia
RussiaGermany
Ireland
RussiaUSA
Germany
RussiaUK
USA
Portugal
Iraq

Georgia
Spain
Saudi Arabia
USA
CuracaoIndonesia
USA
Germany
Albania
Germany
Indonesia
USA
Iran
RussiaWorldwide
India
PolandUSA
Switzerland
UkraineSpain
USA
Libya and Germany
UK and Ireland
Switzerland
VietnamSoutheast Asia
China
Georgia
EuropeN/A

Actionadvice given
advice given
block issued
block issued
block issued, hiding of notes or commentschangeset commented
block issued
hiding of notes or comments
advice given, changeset commented, community contacted, reverted
block issued
block issued
advice given
otheradvice given
otheradvice given
hiding of notes or comments
no action needed
advice givenno action needed
no action needed
advice given
advice given
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given
block issued
block issued, reverted
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice givenno action neededblock issued, reverted
block issued
otheradvice given
advice given, changeset commented, reverted
block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
block issued, reverted
advice given
other

3

Created2018-07-23 13:57
2018-07-23 18:23
2018-07-24 08:23
2018-07-24 10:03
2018-07-24 12:59
2018-07-24 13:16
2018-07-24 15:39
2018-07-24 22:48
2018-07-25 05:03
2018-07-25 10:08
2018-07-25 11:03
2018-07-25 12:35
2018-07-25 13:16
2018-07-25 16:51
2018-07-25 22:13
2018-07-26 07:54
2018-07-26 08:10
2018-07-26 08:27
2018-07-26 08:49
2018-07-26 15:56
2018-07-27 08:36
2018-07-28 00:25
2018-07-28 10:19
2018-07-28 11:35
2018-07-28 11:49
2018-07-29 20:38
2018-07-30 12:12
2018-07-30 16:24
2018-07-30 20:16
2018-07-30 21:11
2018-07-30 23:33
2018-08-01 12:31
2018-08-01 16:38
2018-08-01 18:29
2018-08-01 19:29
2018-08-01 20:16
2018-08-01 20:52
2018-08-02 13:56
2018-08-03 09:05
2018-08-03 15:35
2018-08-06 06:36
2018-08-07 20:38
2018-08-08 22:21
2018-08-09 07:27
2018-08-09 14:34
2018-08-09 14:36
2018-08-11 02:08
2018-08-11 05:22
2018-08-12 09:15
2018-08-12 14:00
2018-08-12 14:10
2018-08-12 15:18
2018-08-12 21:46
2018-08-12 21:52
2018-08-13 01:06
2018-08-13 08:01
2018-08-13 08:15

Type
other
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
non-international external complaint about data
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessotherspam or poor mapping
import from potentially incompatible source
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
international dispute
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mappingotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mapping
import from potentially incompatible source
spam or poor mapping
otherimport from potentially incompatible source
user conflict and non-responsivenessotherspam or poor mapping
request to remove personal data found in OSM
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
other
other
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
import from potentially incompatible source
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping

Regionn/aGermany
Uruguay
CanadaAustria
BrazilPolandUSA
USA
Switzerland
Portugal
Germany
Worldwide
Romania
Singapore
USA
USA
USA
Indonesia
Egypt / Sudan
RussiaPolandGermany
Indonesia
PolandRussiaAustralia
RussiaUSA
RussiaWorldwide
FranceRussiaUSA
USA
CanadaBrazilRussiaAustralia
GlobalDubai
Germany
Italy
England
RussiaAzerbaijan
GlobalKorea
China
Ethiopia
SwedenHong Kong
FranceUSA
MexicoRomania

Actionadvice given
block issued, reverted
advice given
advice given, block issued
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given
revertedno action needed
advice given, reverted
advice given
advice given, reverted
block issued
changeset commented, reverted
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given, reverted
advice given
block issued
advice given, block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
block issued
advice given, reverted
advice given, community contacted
block issued, reverted
advice given, block issued, reverted
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given
block issued, reverted
advice given, changeset commented, redacted
block issued, reverted
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
redacted, reverted
no action neededblock issued, reverted
block issued, reverted
no action needed
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued
redacted, reverted
advice given, reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued

4Created2018-08-13 08:28
2018-08-13 09:24
2018-08-13 09:33
2018-08-13 09:37
2018-08-13 09:42
2018-08-13 16:33
2018-08-13 23:20
2018-08-14 00:22
2018-08-14 08:28
2018-08-14 09:53
2018-08-14 11:34
2018-08-14 11:44
2018-08-14 11:55
2018-08-14 12:10
2018-08-16 10:30
2018-08-16 13:45
2018-08-16 15:10
2018-08-17 12:41
2018-08-17 16:09
2018-08-18 05:28
2018-08-18 09:03
2018-08-18 23:03
2018-08-19 12:33
2018-08-19 13:02
2018-08-19 13:36
2018-08-19 15:42
2018-08-20 08:46
2018-08-20 20:30
2018-08-21 10:49
2018-08-21 12:24
2018-08-22 12:54
2018-08-22 13:09
2018-08-23 10:23
2018-08-23 15:50
2018-08-24 21:26
2018-08-24 21:45
2018-08-25 00:14
2018-08-26 11:17
2018-08-26 12:52
2018-08-26 13:03
2018-08-26 13:13
2018-08-26 13:23
2018-08-26 13:50
2018-08-26 14:08
2018-08-26 14:34
2018-08-26 14:52
2018-08-26 19:41
2018-08-27 22:28
2018-08-27 22:36
2018-08-28 00:06
2018-08-28 11:08
2018-08-28 14:48
2018-08-29 08:44
2018-08-29 08:53
2018-08-30 00:45
2018-08-30 14:07
2018-08-30 14:55

Type
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
user conflict and non-responsivenessuser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
international disputeinternational disputeotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsiveness
request to remove personal data found in OSM
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
user conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
international disputegeneral request for information
general request for information

RegionUSA
CanadaChina
SerbiaWorldwide
PolandEngland
Switzerland
CanadaGermany
IranAustriaJapan
India
Worldwide
Italy
Great Britain
Spain
Bosnia and Herzegowina
USA
IrelandSpain
Azerbaijan
PolandSpain
CrimeaIndia
RussiaPhilippines
Finland
PolandPolandIraq
USA
Macedonia
Czech Republic
Iran
Spain
PolandUK and Ireland
Vietnam
Italy
Georgia
Germany
England
Spain
United Kingdom
USA
SerbiaUK
Lithuania
USA
Nagorno Karabakh
USA
USA

Actionadvice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice givenno action needed
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued
block issued
advice given
advice given, changeset commented
advice given
advice givenno action neededblock issued, reverted
revertedcommunity contacted
no action needed
advice given
advice givenno action needed
community contacted, otheradvice givenno action needed
reverted
advice given
advice given
block issued
redacted
block issued, revertedchangeset commented
advice given
advice given
block issued
advice given, block issued, reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given, changeset commented
advice given
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given

5Created2018-08-30 17:28
2018-08-30 21:58
2018-08-30 22:05
2018-08-30 22:11
2018-08-30 22:57
2018-08-31 06:59
2018-08-31 13:09
2018-08-31 16:44
2018-08-31 20:32
2018-08-31 20:39
2018-08-31 20:51
2018-08-31 20:57
2018-08-31 21:02
2018-08-31 21:21
2018-09-01 09:13
2018-09-01 16:25
2018-09-01 21:28
2018-09-01 21:37
2018-09-01 23:07
2018-09-01 23:21
2018-09-02 04:04
2018-09-03 12:34
2018-09-03 13:51
2018-09-03 20:01
2018-09-04 20:53
2018-09-04 21:47
2018-09-05 09:59
2018-09-05 12:52
2018-09-05 15:50
2018-09-07 14:42
2018-09-07 16:31
2018-09-07 19:59
2018-09-07 20:06
2018-09-07 20:28
2018-09-07 20:34
2018-09-07 20:42
2018-09-08 15:07
2018-09-08 17:45
2018-09-10 14:04
2018-09-11 03:00
2018-09-11 04:35
2018-09-11 09:50
2018-09-11 11:15
2018-09-11 13:25
2018-09-12 09:31
2018-09-12 11:54
2018-09-12 18:53
2018-09-12 21:31
2018-09-14 16:28
2018-09-15 08:27
2018-09-15 08:31
2018-09-15 08:56
2018-09-15 09:17
2018-09-15 09:30
2018-09-16 11:34
2018-09-16 12:11
2018-09-16 16:01

Typegeneral request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
non-international external complaint about data
user conflict and non-responsivenessotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessuser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
request to remove personal data found in OSM
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessgeneral request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
international dispute
request to remove personal data found in OSM
user conflict and non-responsivenessinternational disputegeneral request for information
spam or poor mapping
international disputegeneral request for information
spam or poor mapping
international disputegeneral request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
otherRegionTurkmenistan
USA
USA
USA
CanadaAustriaUSA
Germany
GreeceGermany
Unknown
USA
Germany
Iraq
Italy
USA
Canada
Spain
USA
USA
USA
Australia
Iran
BrazilUSA
Netherlands
Worldwide
RussiaUSA
Georgia
Argentina
China
PolandUSA
USA
Indonesia
UK
UkraineNepal
USA
RussiaSpain / Morocco
NorwayUSA
Spain/Morocco
USA
FranceGeorgia, Abchasia, South Ossetia
Chile
Iran
Iran
Iran
Germany
IranRussiaUSA

Actionadvice given
advice given, reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given, otheradvice given, changeset commented, otheradvice given
advice given, block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given
reverted
advice given, block issued
advice given, otheradvice given
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued, changeset commented, other, reverted
advice given
advice given, community contacted
advice given, block issued, reverted
no action needed
advice given
advice given
advice given, otheradvice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
reverted
block issued
advice given, block issued, reverted
advice givenchangeset commented
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued, changeset commented
advice given, block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued
advice given

6Created2018-09-17 01:15
2018-09-17 08:22
2018-09-18 06:04
2018-09-18 15:16
2018-09-18 20:00
2018-09-18 20:07
2018-09-18 20:24
2018-09-18 20:40
2018-09-18 20:50
2018-09-18 21:00
2018-09-19 12:00
2018-09-19 13:47
2018-09-19 20:51
2018-09-19 21:11
2018-09-19 21:22
2018-09-19 23:36
2018-09-20 02:39
2018-09-20 06:16
2018-09-20 14:28
2018-09-21 12:09
2018-09-21 12:14
2018-09-21 19:21
2018-09-21 22:52
2018-09-22 08:23
2018-09-22 11:27
2018-09-23 08:40
2018-09-23 09:04
2018-09-23 12:04
2018-09-25 10:10
2018-09-25 19:18
2018-09-25 19:58
2018-09-25 20:03
2018-09-25 20:08
2018-09-25 20:28
2018-09-26 18:14
2018-09-26 18:33
2018-09-26 21:47
2018-09-27 07:46
2018-09-27 09:32
2018-09-27 16:49
2018-09-27 17:25
2018-09-28 06:32
2018-09-29 08:38
2018-09-29 09:02
2018-09-29 09:07
2018-09-29 09:19
2018-09-30 01:53
2018-09-30 04:46
2018-09-30 08:12
2018-09-30 09:45
2018-09-30 10:18
2018-09-30 10:25
2018-09-30 11:34
2018-09-30 14:42
2018-09-30 17:36
2018-09-30 20:12
2018-09-30 20:41

Typeinternational dispute
user conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
request for technical help e.g. revert
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessinternational dispute
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsiveness
import from potentially incompatible source
request to remove personal data found in OSM
misdirected request for changes outside OSM
general request for information
general request for information
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
general request for information
general request for informationotherspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessspam or poor mapping
spam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsiveness
undiscussed or other problematic importuser conflict and non-responsivenessgeneral request for information
spam or poor mappingotherspam or poor mappinguser conflict and non-responsivenessmisdirected request for changes outside OSM

RegionSouth Korea / Japan
Libya
China
India
USA
USA
CanadaArgentina
Colombia
NorwayIndia
USA
Netherlands
Germany
USA
FranceSpain
Ukraine
Italy
Chile
USA
USA
Palestine
Gibraltar
RussiaCanadaBurkina Faso
United Kingdom
BrazilBelgiumIndonesia
Indonesia
BangladeshIndonesia
Iran
USA
IsraelGreece
USA
USA
USA
Iran
USA
Germany
FranceChile
RussiaSpain
IranPortugal
Iran
Austria
Finland
CanadaPolandUSA

Actionotheradvice given
advice given, revertedchangeset commented, reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given, hiding of notes or comments
advice given
block issued
advice given
advice given, block issued
advice given, reverted
block issued, reverted
advice givenchangeset commented, reverted
block issued
advice given, block issued
redactedhiding of notes or comments
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given
advice given, block issued, changeset commented
advice given, block issued
advice given, block issued
advice given
advice given
advice given
block issued, changeset commented
advice given
block issued
advice given
reverted
advice given
advice given
advice given, changeset commented
block issued
advice given, block issued
advice givenchangeset commented
advice given
otheradvice given
advice given, block issued, reverted
advice given
otherReporting methodology
Each case listed is identified by the creation date of the ticket, the type of issue or complaint, the region
affected, and DWG action on the case.
Cases are manually coded into the following highly generalized categories:• API misuse: user abusing API for editing.
• DMCA notice: legal entity filing a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice.
• General request for information: a query about a data type, a process, or other at least semi-DWG
related matter.
• Import from incompatible source: user adding copyrighted or otherwise incompatibly licensed data.
• International dispute: mapping dispute related to international issues, such as border representations
or international attributes on objects.
• Non-international external complaint about data: an outside entity with a data issue (e.g. private
property, incorrect tag).
• Request for technical help: community request for DWG expertise, usually in reverting a complex setof data.
• Request to remove personal data: complaint about identifying information added to the database,whether on objects or notes.
• Spam or poor mapping: a user adding spam data or generally degrading data quality.
• Undiscussed mechanical edit: user employing technical means to edit OSM with limited or no humanintervention and not following the automated edits code of conduct.
• Undiscussed or other problematic import: user importing data without following the guidelines.
• User conflict or non-responsiveness: a conflict between one or more mappers, possibly due to nonresponsiveness in discussions about the mapping occurring.
• Other: issue that does not necessarily fit into one of these categories.
Reporting methodologies differed from the current system prior to 2017, so the listed action may be only
one of the many DWG actions for the case. Nevertheless, action definitions are:• Advice given: information is provided to the party.
• Block issued: a user block is issued for a user.
• Changeset commented: a DWG member reached out in a comment on an involved changeset.
• Hiding of notes or comments: in the case of personal data or spam, the note or comment was hiddenfrom public view.
• No action needed: the community resolved the case, the suspected violation was indeed not actuallytrue, or the case required no intervention.
• Reverted: data in question were reverted and possibly redacted.
• Other: action does not necessarily fit into one of these categories.
The OpenStreetMap website gained the ability to report changesets to the DWG within the site itself,
so the number and composition of reports may not be comparable before and after this date.
The use of region names in this report is not an endorsement of any particular claim of sovereignty orstatehood.
Prepared by Paul Norman for the Data Working Group

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