Wisbewerking

Wisbewerking is the act of erasing or deleting content or edits within a digital system. In Dutch computing jargon, wisbewerking refers to removing data, entries, or revisions from a repository, database, or content management system. It is distinct from editing for improvement and from simply reverting changes; wisbewerking can permanently or semi-permanently remove records or content to achieve a clean or compliant state.

Wisbewerking is applied in various contexts, including wikis, content management systems, and databases. On public wikis, an administrator or moderator may perform wisbewerking to remove vandalism, outdated information, or in response to privacy requests. In version-controlled environments, a wisbewerking might delete specific revisions or files, subject to retention policies. In data management, wisbewerking can involve deleting user accounts, logs, or records, following data protection rules and organizational policies.

The process typically requires authorization, justification, and an audit trail. Policies outline when deletion is allowed, whether a soft delete (such as moving to a trash or recycle bin) or a hard delete (permanent removal) is used, and how recovery is handled. Deletion can affect history, reproducibility, and compliance, and is often accompanied by backups or data retention schedules. Communication with stakeholders and documentation of the decision are common practices. Overall, wisbewerking is a fundamental operation in maintaining data quality, privacy, and governance in digital systems.