Re: BALLOT OPTION: A cautious approach to generative AI

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Tobias Frost, on 2026-07-29:
> Hi,
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> Thanks for the feeback I've already received!
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> (I just realized that I will very likely be afk until Friday, so I go ahe=
ad and
> propose this option right away.  I've intergrated Gunnar's suggestion,
> otherwise this is unchanged.  We can still work with ammendments if sugge=
stions
> are made.)
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> I think there is still a gap among the current ballot options, so I'd
> like to propose another one for discussion.
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> The intention is to acknowledge the concerns around generative AI and
> encourage caution in its use, while avoiding new behavioural or Code of
> Conduct rules. Instead, it reaffirms Debian's long-standing principles
> of contributor autonomy, personal responsibility, and collaborative
> maintenance.
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> Comments welcome. If people think this option might be useful to have on
> the ballot, I'll formally propose it.
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> -----BEGIN DRAFT PROPOSAL-----
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> Summary: A cautious approach to generative AI
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> Using its power under Constitution section 4.1(5), the Project issues
> the following statement describing its current position regarding the
> use of generative AI within Debian.
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> Debian recognizes that generative AI raises significant ethical, legal,
> technical, and social concerns. These include questions relating to
> copyright and licensing, privacy, the provenance and quality of
> generated material, the health of Free Software communities, and the
> long-term consequences of widespread reliance on AI-generated content.
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> Accordingly, Debian encourages contributors to avoid the use of
> generative AI where practical and to prefer human authorship,
> collaboration, and technical understanding over AI-generated output.
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> At the same time, Debian has long relied on the judgment and
> responsibility of its contributors rather than prescribing individual
> workflows. Contributors remain responsible for everything they submit,
> irrespective of the tools used in preparing a contribution. Existing
> Debian standards regarding quality, correctness, licensing, and legal
> compliance continue to apply.
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> Contributors using external generative AI services should exercise
> particular care not to disclose confidential information, embargoed
> security information, credentials, cryptographic keys, private
> communications, personal data, or other non-public Debian information.
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> Nothing in this resolution should be understood as requiring
> contributors to use generative AI, nor as preventing contributors or
> maintainers from choosing not to use or accept AI-assisted
> contributions. Debian's existing collaborative processes remain the
> appropriate means for resolving such differences while allowing the
> project to continue making progress.
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> While disclosure is not required, contributors are encouraged to
> voluntarily disclose the use of generative AI where appropriate,
> allowing others who prefer not to interact with AI-assisted content to
> make informed choices.
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> Such disclosure should be regarded as a courtesy to fellow contributors
> rather than an indication that AI-assisted contributions are subject to
> different technical or procedural standards.
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> The Debian project has always recognized the commitment and
> professionalism of its members. All contributions are under the
> responsibility of the Debian Contributor making it, no matter the
> technology they have behind. We trust all Debian Developers,
> Maintainers and Contributors will continue to uphold the high quality
> values that have distinguished our project from its onset.
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> -----END PROPOSAL-----
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> Disclosure: This proposal originated from my own ideas. I used a
> generative AI solely as a drafting and language assistance tool, and
> reviewed and edited the resulting text before posting it.
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> --=20
> tobi

Seconded

Have a nice day,  :)
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  .''`.  =C3=89tienne Mollier <[email protected]>
 : :' :  pgp: 8f91 b227 c7d6 f2b1 948c  8236 793c f67e 8f0d 11da
 `. `'   sent from /dev/pts/0, please excuse my verbosity
   `-

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