[rpd] PDWG Co-Chairs communication regarding observed behavior on AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02

[Nonjabulo Sphilile]

Dear colleagues,

Thank you, Mike and Ben. I think both of you identify important parts of
the problem.

Ben is right that the effect on the mailing list matters. Regardless of
whether the messages were written manually, drafted with AI, or fully
automated, excessive posting can overwhelm members, reduce meaningful
participation, and make the list less useful. That impact should not be
dismissed.

At the same time, Mike’s distinction between the use of LLMs and the abuse
of the mailing list is essential. We should regulate harmful conduct, not
the technology itself. We should also avoid treating a coordinated
automated campaign as an established fact unless there is sufficient
evidence to support that conclusion.

A measured and proportionate response would be to begin with the least
restrictive intervention: acknowledge the problem, communicate clearly to
the posters that the volume and style of their contributions have been
counterproductive, and allow the community’s natural incentives and
feedback to influence future behaviour. Mentorship and guidance should come
before filtering, exclusion, or other strict measures, particularly where
the existing rules may not have clearly addressed this kind of activity.

If the behaviour continues after clear notice, then reasonable safeguards
such as posting limits, moderation procedures, or updated Code of Conduct
provisions may become appropriate. Any such measures should be transparent,
consistently applied, and developed through an open process rather than
introduced as a reaction to a particular group or tool.

The objective should be to preserve an open and useful forum while ensuring
accountability. That requires us to distinguish evidence from suspicion,
impact from intent, and responsible AI use from conduct that genuinely
disrupts the community.

Kind regards,
Nonjabulo
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