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doc: update Code of Conduct to Contributor Covenant 3.0 - #1097

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doc: update Code of Conduct to Contributor Covenant 3.0#1097
bmuenzenmeyer wants to merge 2 commits into
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@bmuenzenmeyer bmuenzenmeyer commented Sep 5, 2026

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Part of the moderation policy review framed by openjs-foundation/summit#511, for discussion at the Moderation Roundtable on October 1 (if not resolves to consensus prior).

Note

This proposal has a bit more ambiguity than the others, and should be considered later in the session.

Upgrades the Node.js Code of Conduct to Contributor Covenant v3.
Looking for a diff? There isn't really one, but I will do my best to call out important new clauses for discussion and alignment.

Refs:

@bmuenzenmeyer

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This is a "byte-identical" framing of Contributor Covenant 3 with placeholders addressed with our own policies or teams, but I plan to review that in earnest and report it here.

Contributor Covenant 3.0 restricts "sharing or acting on someone's
personal or private information without their permission", but does not
say how that interacts with reporting an incident. Read narrowly, it
leaves a reporter unsure whether forwarding a harassing direct message to
report@nodejs.org is itself a violation.

v3.0 also drops two v2.0 clauses that covered private conduct:

  * "Public or private harassment"
  * "Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in
    a professional setting"

v3.0's harassment restriction requires an explicitly expressed boundary
or a prior request to stop, so publishing a private communication in
order to win a public argument is no longer clearly covered by anything
other than the catch-all.

This adds a Node.js-specific Confidentiality section that:

  * exempts information shared with the Moderation Team when reporting or
    investigating, so forwarding a private message to report@nodejs.org
    is never itself a violation
  * reads "personal or private information" to include statements made in
    a private setting, not only identifying details
  * distinguishes describing someone's conduct toward you, which is not a
    disclosure, from republishing their private words to apply pressure
    or to enlist their view, which is

Upstream v3.0 text is left byte-identical so future updates stay easy to
diff. Kept as a separate commit so it can be dropped independently of the
Contributor Covenant 3.0 upgrade.

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self-review with explicit call outs

Comment thread CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
We pledge to make our community welcoming, safe, and equitable for all.

## Enforcement Responsibilities
We are committed to fostering an environment that respects and promotes the dignity, rights, and contributions of all individuals, regardless of characteristics including race, ethnicity, caste, color, age, physical characteristics, neurodiversity, disability, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, language, philosophy or religion, national or social origin, socio-economic position, level of education, or other status. The same privileges of participation are extended to everyone who participates in good faith and in accordance with this Covenant.

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level of experience is omitted in v3

Suggested change
We are committed to fostering an environment that respects and promotes the dignity, rights, and contributions of all individuals, regardless of characteristics including race, ethnicity, caste, color, age, physical characteristics, neurodiversity, disability, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, language, philosophy or religion, national or social origin, socio-economic position, level of education, or other status. The same privileges of participation are extended to everyone who participates in good faith and in accordance with this Covenant.
We are committed to fostering an environment that respects and promotes the dignity, rights, and contributions of all individuals, regardless of characteristics including race, ethnicity, caste, color, age, physical characteristics, neurodiversity, disability, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, level of experience, language, philosophy or religion, national or social origin, socio-economic position, level of education, or other status. The same privileges of participation are extended to everyone who participates in good faith and in accordance with this Covenant.

Comment thread CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
When an incident does occur, it is important to report it promptly. To report a possible violation, contact the [Node.js Moderation Team][] at [report@nodejs.org][]. Additional ways to request moderation, including opening an issue in a Node.js repository, are described in the [Moderation Policy][].

### 2. Warning
The [Node.js Moderation Team][] takes reports of violations seriously and will make every effort to respond in a timely manner. They will investigate all reports of code of conduct violations, reviewing messages, logs, and recordings, or interviewing witnesses and other participants. The Moderation Team will keep investigation and enforcement actions as transparent as possible while prioritizing safety and confidentiality. In order to honor these values, enforcement actions are carried out in private with the involved parties, but communicating to the whole community may be part of a mutually agreed upon resolution.

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this supports scoping questions made within openjs-foundation/cross-project-council#1701 (comment)

Comment thread CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
### Other Restrictions

Community leaders will follow these Community Impact Guidelines in determining the consequences for any action they deem in violation of this Code of Conduct:
1. **Misleading identity.** Impersonating someone else for any reason, or pretending to be someone else to evade enforcement actions.

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new - alt accounts and evasion is explicitly banned

Comment thread CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
## Reporting an Issue

**Community Impact**: Use of inappropriate language or other behavior deemed unprofessional or unwelcome in the community.
Tensions can occur between community members even when they are trying their best to collaborate. Not every conflict represents a code of conduct violation, and this Code of Conduct reinforces encouraged behaviors and norms that can help avoid conflicts and minimize harm.

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"Not every conflict represents a code of conduct violation" hopefully this is a welcome addition.

Comment thread CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
professional setting
While acknowledging differences in social norms, we all strive to meet our community's expectations for positive behavior. We also understand that our words and actions may be interpreted differently than we intend based on culture, background, or native language.

## Enforcement Responsibilities

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this is now mostly in the moderation policy instead of repeated

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lgtm

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