What happens when VGI is threatened? An analysis of the events behind the introduction of rate limiting in OpenStreetMap

The OpenStreetMap (OSM) crowdsourcing project assumes that a diverse crowd can collaboratively agree on project goals and the methods to achieve them. This presumption of goodwill among participants is, for the most part, validated by OSM’s success. However, there are instances where these assumptions are challenged, and when unresolved, disputes can escalate into "editing wars," where users engage in repeated edits to enforce their views. These include actions like spamming and vandalism, where edits intentionally misrepresent on-the-ground reality. These abuses pose significant risks to the project's success, as an inaccurate map can render OSM unusable in many contexts. This paper documents and analyses the events that led to the implementation of the editing rate limit in OSM. The chain of these events began on October 20, 2023 when members of the OSM Israel community reported an instance of vandalism. Understanding these events, the paper reflects on the factors influencing OSM’s resilience and vulnerability as well as on its dynamic governance system characterised by the opposing needs to reduce vulnerability and enhance openness.

GRINBERGER A. Yair;  MINGHINI Marco; 

2025-10-20

Zenodo

JRC141452

https://zenodo.org/records/17369467,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC141452,   

10.5281/zenodo.17369467 (online),