1. Purpose
To ensure that external social media discussions do not introduce bias or misinformation into Canuckduck’s decision-making process, this document outlines the rules for accessing Flightplan and Consensus from outside platforms while maintaining structured engagement.
2. Social Media Link Restrictions
- Direct links to Consensus from social media will not function unless the user has prior engagement with the issue.
- Links to Flightplan will redirect users to the issue home page first, ensuring they read the high-level problem statement and all proposed resolutions before accessing specific solutions.
- Pond links remain open, allowing users to enter discussions before transitioning into structured problem-solving.
3. Access Control Flow
Consensus Access Rules
- If a user has prior engagement with an issue (determined via OpenLDAP session tracking), they may directly access Consensus from an external link.
- If a user has not engaged with the issue, they will be redirected to the related discussion in Pond or Flightplan before voting is allowed.
Flightplan Access Rules
- All users must enter Flightplan at the issue’s home page.
- Users cannot directly access specific proposed resolutions from external links.
- Once on the issue home page, users are free to navigate to resolutions, discussions, and other relevant sections.
4. Technical Implementation (OpenLDAP & Session Tracking)
- OpenLDAP will track whether a user has engaged with an issue (e.g., viewed or interacted with its Pond or Flightplan pages).
- If a user without prior engagement tries to access Consensus directly, they are silently redirected to the appropriate discussion.
- Session tokens prevent social media brigading, ensuring that all participants have been exposed to unbiased, structured information before voting.
- No notifications or error messages—users are naturally routed through the appropriate flow without disruption.
5. Rationale & Benefits
Prevents bias from external discussions affecting voting outcomes.
Ensures that all users engage with structured information before participating in Consensus.
Prevents disinformation from spreading through direct manipulation of votes.
Maintains a seamless, silent user experience—no pop-ups or friction, just structured flow.
6. Conclusion
This access control system ensures that Canuckduck remains a neutral, issue-driven, and structured platform for civic engagement. By routing users appropriately, it protects the integrity of discussions and decision-making without restricting social media conversations outright.