RFC 9775

IRTF Code of Conduct

📅 published March 2025, from ietf

RFC 9775: IRTF Code of Conduct 🎀

okay bestie, let's get into this one 💅 here's the title block, all the important deets up top:

  • Number: RFC 9775
  • Stream: Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) 🌸
  • Author: C. S. Perkins, University of Glasgow
  • Category: Informational
  • Date: March 2025
  • ISSN: 2070-1721
  • Obsoletes / Updates: the title block doesn't list any RFCs this one obsoletes or updates ✨

Abstract

okay so this doc is the code of conduct for everyone taking part in the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) 🦋 the vibe is that the IRTF thinks research works best when it's an open, inclusive space with lots of different ideas and lots of different people showing up. so the IRTF keeps working on an environment where people get broad participation and are treated with dignity, decency, and respect 🫶

this document is a product of the Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG) 💜

Status of This Memo

this one is not an Internet Standards Track spec, it's just published for info 💅

the IRTF shares the results of Internet-related research and development. those results might not be ready for deployment 🧪 documents the IRSG approves for publication are not candidates for any level of Internet Standard, see Section 2 of RFC 7841 🔥

current status info, any errata, and how to send feedback live at https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9775 ✨

Copyright (c) 2025 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved. 🎀

this doc is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) as they stand on the publication date. read them carefully bestie, they spell out your rights and restrictions for this doc 📜

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction
   2.  Rationale
   3.  Conduct
   4.  Research Integrity
   5.  Research Ethics
   6.  Inclusive Language and Imagery
   7.  Participation and Accessibility
   8.  Security Considerations
   9.  IANA Considerations
   10. References
     10.1.  Normative References
     10.2.  Informative References
   Acknowledgments
   Author's Address

1. Introduction ✨

okay so the IRTF pushes research that matters for how the Internet protocols, apps, architecture, and tech evolve 🌈 it also wants to understand how the Internet grows in all its diversity and for all its users, while thinking about the technical, economic, and societal challenges that come with that 💖 the IRTF is all about the longer-term research questions, and its parallel org, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), handles the shorter-term stuff of engineering and standards-making 🧚

the IRTF believes research is most effective in an open and inclusive forum that welcomes a range of ideas and participation. through this code of conduct, the IRTF will keep striving to build and keep an environment with broad participation, where people are treated with dignity, decency, and respect 🫶

this doc was developed by the IRSG with broad consultation and review from the IRTF community 🌸 it represents the consensus of the IRSG. it is not an IETF product and it is not a standard 🙈

2. Rationale 🧠

the IRTF is not the IETF 💅 the two orgs work super closely and often co-locate their meetings and other activities, but they have different goals and work in different ways 🦋

the IETF is a consensus-driven standards-developing org. participants use their best engineering judgment to find the best solution for the whole Internet as it is today, and to develop the best technical standards to make the Internet work better 👑 IRTF research can be more speculative. it takes a longer-term view of how the Internet develops, and it doesn't come with the consensus requirements or the near-term applicability and deployability that standards work does 🔮 more on the differences between IRTF and IETF is in [RFC7418] 📚

compared to the IETF equivalent [RFC7154], this IRTF code of conduct reflects those differences in emphasis between the two orgs ✨

3. Conduct 🎀

the IRTF is committed to a safe and equitable experience for everyone taking part 🫶 people participating in the IRTF must show respect and courtesy to others at all times 💖

so, harassment is behaviour that is unwelcome, hostile, or intimidating 🙅‍♀️ it especially includes speech or behaviour that is sexually aggressive, or that intimidates based on attributes like education, race, gender, religion, age, colour, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or gender identity [RFC7776] 🌈

examples of harassment include, but aren't limited to: offensive language or sexual imagery, degrading verbal comments, deliberate intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention 💀 not okay, no cap 🚫

harassment will not be tolerated in IRTF research group meetings, open meetings, conferences, workshops, other events, mailing lists, virtual meetings, or other online forums 🛑 participants must follow the IETF anti-harassment policy, which also applies to the IRTF [ANTI-HARASSMENT] 📜

if you think you've been harassed, notice someone else being harassed, or have any other concerns about potential harassment or conduct, you're encouraged to raise it with the relevant research group chair or the IRTF Chair, or with the Ombudsteam [OMBUDSTEAM] 🫶 the Ombudsteam works on an independent and confidential basis. every concern will be seriously considered and action will be taken as appropriate, up to and including excluding the offending party from IRTF activities ⚖️

the IRTF sometimes organises meetings or activities that co-locate with events run by other people. those meetings may need to follow the anti-harassment policy of the hosting event, which might be different from the IRTF's own 🌸 in that case, the organisers of the IRTF meeting or activity should check with the IRTF Chair to confirm the policy is acceptable, and it should be made clear to participants which policy applies 💅

the IRTF runs and uses a bunch of mailing lists and other online discussion forums 💬 at the time of writing, research group chairs moderate the forums their groups use, and the IRTF Chair moderates IRTF-wide lists and forums. other moderators might be appointed in the future 🔮 harassment or disruption on these lists and forums, whether from inflammatory, abusive, or otherwise inappropriate posts, or from repeatedly posting off-topic material, will not be tolerated 🙅‍♀️ moderators will respond to harassing or disruptive behaviour with a warning, by temporarily suspending posting rights, or, after approval from the IRTF Chair, by permanently suspending posting rights for an individual. it depends on how serious and how repeated the behaviour is 🧚

if you have concerns about a moderation decision, or want to appeal one, raise them with the IRTF Chair 🦋 if the concern is about a moderation decision the IRTF Chair made, it should be raised with the Internet Architecture Board instead. these parties will review the situation, and may reverse the moderation decision or take other action as appropriate ✨

to be continued in part 2 💖

6. Inclusive Language and Imagery ✨

Okay bestie, everyone should make sure the language and imagery they use in IRTF documents, presentations, mailing lists, research group meetings, open meetings, conferences, workshops, and other events are respectful and inclusive 🫶. Clear, precise, widely accessible terminology is the move, because it reaches readers from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures 💖. If you're contributing to the IRTF, you're encouraged to follow the guidance on inclusive language in [NISTIR8366] [INCLUSIVE] 📚.

Participants should avoid slang and unnecessary jargon in both speaking and writing 🙈. When communication gets messy, IRTF participants should make a real effort to understand each other, and they should chat it out to clarify things when needed 🌸.

7. Participation and Accessibility 🦋

We want everyone in the room, so IRTF participants should think about accessibility and access-related concerns when they organise research group meetings, open meetings, conferences, workshops, and other events. The goal is an open, inclusive forum that celebrates diversity of ideas and participation, and events should be broadly accessible to anyone who wants to join 💜.

English is the de facto language of the IRTF, but it isn't the first language for a lot of participants 🌈. Everyone, especially folks who speak English as a first language, should try to meet others halfway by communicating clearly. Reading, writing, and talking in a language you didn't grow up with can be hard, so participants should treat people doing that with grace and understanding 🫶.

Speak slowly and clearly in presentations and discussions, and make your slides and other materials accessible to people with impaired vision or disabilities ✨.

Please help people join remotely if they can't make it in person, and try to get materials online in a timely and broadly accessible way 🎀.

The IRTF will work to provide travel grants, fee waivers, childcare, and other support for students, early career researchers, members of under-represented groups, people with disabilities, and others who might otherwise be unable to take part 💅. You're encouraged to use these opportunities. They're there for you!

IRTF research groups may have open or limited membership [RFC2014]. Limited membership can help build the long-term working relationships that make collaborative research succeed 🤝. But limited membership must be used with care and sensitivity so the research community doesn't get unnecessarily fragmented 🧩. Each research group's charter sets out its membership policy (open or limited) and how to apply to join ✨. Limited membership is permitted, but it's in no way encouraged or required, so don't feel like you have to do it 💀. Research group chairs must enforce their group's membership policy in a fair and transparent way, and they must give a clear rationale for their decisions 👑. If you have concerns about how a research group's membership policy is being run, or you want to appeal a membership decision, raise it with the IRTF Chair 🙏.

In exceptional cases, legal counsel may advise restricting an individual from using IRTF IT systems and/or from taking part in IRTF research group meetings, open meetings, conferences, workshops, and other events 😳. In those cases, the IRTF Chair will act following the principles in the Statement on Restricting Access [RESTRICTING]. Because shared infrastructure and joint IRTF and IETF meetings can affect the standards process, any such action by the IRTF Chair will only be taken in consultation with the IESG 🫶.

8. Security Considerations 🔐

Okay, real talk: this IRTF code of conduct does not directly affect the security of the Internet 🙂.

BUT, research results can have a big impact on the security and privacy of Internet users once they get translated into practice 😤. Researchers should think about the potential security benefits, risks, and implications of their work, and where possible, they should aim to improve security and protect the privacy of Internet users through their research [RFC8890] 🔥.

9. IANA Considerations 🌸

This document has no IANA actions 🌷.

10. References 📚

10.1. Normative References

10.2. Informative References

Acknowledgments 🫶

This work is supported in part by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under grant EP/S036075/1 💜.

This document is based, in part, on the IETF guidelines for conduct [RFC7154]. We're also super grateful for the influence of the code of conduct and other policies of ICANN, the USENIX Association, and the Association for Computing Machinery 🌟.

Thanks to Carsten Bormann, Vigdis Bronder, Laurent Ciavaglia, Ignacio Castro, Jane Coffin, Jay Daley, Dhruv Dhody, Toerless Eckert, Lars Eggert, Reese Enghardt, Stephen Farrell, Simone Ferlin, Wes Hardaker, Jana Iyengar, Mallory Knodel, Dirk Kutscher, Mirja Kühlewind, Allison Mankin, Alexey Melnikov, Marie-Jose Montpetit, Dave Oran, Pete Resnick, Shivan Kaul Sahib, Eve Schooler, Melinda Shore, Niels ten Oever, Brian Trammell, Rich Salz, Paul Wouters, Rod Van Meter, and other members of the Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG) for their feedback on this code of conduct 🎀🧚.

Author's Address 🖋️

Colin Perkins University of Glasgow Email: csp@csperkins.org

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