Re: Ballot option: Debian is created by humans

On Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:10, Gard Spreemann <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>Some of us feel that we lack a middle of the road option that
>differentiates between the output of LLMs entering into Debian, and a
>Debian contributor consuming the output of LLMs to assist them in work
>on Debian. I therefore submit the following ballot option.
>
>I realize that there is a large number of options already, but we do
>have a voting system that is unperturbed by that. While a large number
>of options might mean extra work for voters, I on balance believe that
>it is more important that all views are reflected.
>
>Thanks to all those who participated in the discussions and gave
>feedback, and to those who worked on other attempts at middle of the
>road options reflecting the abovementioned distinction.
>
>NB: The proposal uses the term "generative AI" to mean what some other
>proposals call "LLMs" or just "AI". Several people suggested that I
>change the term, and while I agree that it's quite suboptimal, I also
>don't think those two other alternatives are much better. Yet other,
>shall we say more colorful, alternatives can be nice, but run the risk
>of not conveying the same meaning to everyone. For better or worse, the
>term as it stands is at least *understood*. If the ballot option does
>get enough seconds, I would not object to changing the term to another
>standard term as part of a minor editorial change.
>
>
> Best,
> Gard
>
>
>----- BEGIN BALLOT OPTION -----
>
>
># Debian is created by humans
>
>
>## Preamble
>
>This proposal aims to ensure that contributions directly to Debian are
>created by humans, while at the same time avoiding restrictions on the
>tools those humans may choose to use when contributing.
>
>The proposal deals with *direct* contributions to Debian, including, but
>not limited to:
>
>* Debian packaging
>* Submissions (messages, bug reports, patches, etc.) to the BTS, Salsa,
>  mailing lists and other Debian platforms 
>* Debian project software
>* Debian infrastructure
>* Debian web resources
>* Documentation and translation added as part of contributing to Debian
>* Official communication from Debian
>
>The proposal does not cover *indirect* contributions, i.e. those
>originating from upstream works.
>
>Generative AI is characterized by producing output of a nature that
>would ordinarily be produced and consumed by humans. The proposal seeks
>to restrict this output itself from entering Debian (except possibly
>indirectly, from upstream). It does not seek to restrict Debian
>contributors from consuming such output as part of contributing to
>Debian.
>
>
>## Rationale
>
>Debian has a well-earned reputation for stability. This stability is
>crucial to its position in the free software ecosystem. It is our belief
>that a significant part of this stability comes from Debian contributors
>having mutual understanding, trust and respect for each others' work and
>precious time. Generative AI tends to come with practical, legal,
>ethical or ecological concerns that warrant care or extra work that
>often ends up being borne by people other than those wielding the AI. We
>believe that this asymmetry between contributors leveraging generative
>AI to produce material, and those humans who bear that extra care and
>work, will erode the project's mutual understanding, trust and respect.
>
>While Debian has a long-standing tradition of strict rules for what goes
>into the distribution, it does not typically dictate what tools people
>use when contributing to the project. With this principle in mind, the
>proposal does not affect the use of generative AI as an assisitive tool
>to explore, research, analyze, critique, etc., when contributing. The
>responsibilities that come with using the output of an AI in such a role
>is then not transferred onto the wider project in the same problematic
>way as when the output itself is the contribution.
>
>
>## Proposal
>
>In order to safeguard the project's mutual understanding, trust and
>respect, we disallow the output of generative AI as direct contributions
>to Debian.
>
>Those who use such tools assistively in their work are reminded to
>ensure that the resulting contribution is in line with the DFSG and the
>Social Contract in general.
>
>In summary, humans create Debian.
>
>
>## Acknowledgements
>
>This proposal is inspired by GCC's AI Policy [1] and rust-lang's LLM
>Usage Policy [2]. Its wording is influenced by another ballot
>option [3].
>
>[1] https://gcc.gnu.org/ai-policy.html
>
>[2] https://forge.rust-lang.org/policies/llm-usage.html
>
>[3] https://www.debian.org/vote/2026/vote_002#texta
>
>
Hi Gard,

thanks for preparing this. Seconded.


best,