This page outlines administrator instructions for the use of the contentious topics system.

Some contentious topic areas have additional restrictions that you as an administrator can use. These are detailed in the topic specific summary, which can be found in Category:Contentious topic summary pages.

To enact or renew a page restriction follow these steps:

1. Check that the page, or a section of the page, falls within a specific contentious topic.
2. Decide on the appropriate page restriction.

   If you are doing this as an individual administrator you may use the following standard set of restrictions:

   • page protection,
   • revert restrictions,
   • the "consensus required" restriction,
   • the "enforced BRD" restriction, and
   • any other restrictions designated by the Arbitration Committee as part of the standard set of page restrictions for a particular contentious topic.

   If you are implementing the rough consensus of administrators at the arbitration enforcement noticeboard it may be any of the standard set above or any other reasonable measures that are necessary and proportionate for the smooth running of the project as long as the discussion has been open at least 24 hours.

3. Place the restriction

   If you are placing a page restriction through a logged action (i.e. page protection) it is best practice to note in the log that you are placing the page restriction as a special enforcement action for a contentious topic

   For other restrictions, place an editnotice on the page using the {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} or topic specific one in Category:Wikipedia contentious topics page restriction editnotices template.

4. Consider adding (or if it is present editing) the {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} to note the restriction. If you do, remove any uses of {{Contentious topics/talk notice}}.
5. Go to the arbitration enforcement log.
   1. Find the section for the contentious topic that applies to this page. If there is not a section for the contentious topic, add one in alphabetical order.
   2. Add the restriction you placed. If you are implementing the rough consensus of administrators from an AE discussion, say so and provide a permanent link to the discussion

To enact an individual restriction follow these steps:

1. Choose an appropriate contentious topic if not already known.
2. Check that editor has knowledge of the specific contentious topic. An easy way to do this is to check their user talk page history for edits tagged as contentious topic alert. You can use the "Filter revisions" box at the top to quickly search the entire history.^{[note 1]}
3. Decide on the appropriate individual restriction.

   If you are doing this as an individual administrator you may use the following standard set of restrictions:

   • sitewide and partial blocks,
   • topic bans and page bans (from the entire contentious topic, a subtopic, or specified pages within the topic),
   • interaction bans,
   • revert restrictions, and
   • any other restrictions designated by the Arbitration Committee as part of the standard set of individual restrictions for a particular contentious topic.

   If you are implementing the rough consensus of administrators at the arbitration enforcement noticeboard it may be any of the standard set above or any other reasonable measures that are necessary and proportionate for the smooth running of the project as long as the discussion has been open at least 24 hours.

4. Notify the editor of their restriction using the {{AE sanction}} template

   If the restriction involves an administrative action (i.e. you are blocking them) it is best practice to note that you are performing the action as a special enforcement action for a contentious topic

5. Go to the arbitration enforcement log.
   1. Find the section for the specific contentious topic. If there is not a section for the contentious topic, add one in alphabetical order.
   2. Add the restriction you placed. If you are implementing the rough consensus of administrators from an AE discussion, say so and provide a permanent link to the discussion.

To remove or change restrictions follow these steps:

1. Check if you are allowed to remove or change the restriction. Removing or changing a restriction out of process can lead to a desysop. One of the following must be the case:
   • The administrator who originally imposed the restriction consents to the change;
   • The restriction was imposed by a single administrator and the administrator is no longer an administrator;
   • The restriction was imposed by a single administrator and it was imposed or last renewed more than a year ago;
   • Clear consensus of administrators at WP:AE or clear consensus of editors at WP:AN accept an appeal; or
   • A majority of arbitrators at WP:ARCA accept an appeal
2. Implement the change or removal. If the change or removal involves a logged action or edit, it is very good practice to explain why you are allowed to remove or change the restriction in the comment or edit summary.
3. If the restriction was applied to a user, notify the user of the removal or change of their restriction.
4. Go to the arbitration enforcement log.
   1. Find the section for the contentious topic that the restriction was placed under.
   2. Edit that section to strike the restriction or parts of the restriction that have been revoked.
   3. Add an indented line below the original restriction that explains the removal or change, including (if relevant) a link to the successful appeal or log action.