mBan

mBan is a modular ban management framework designed to coordinate bans across multiple online services, such as multiplayer game servers, forums, and chat platforms. It provides a centralized ban repository, an application programming interface, and connectors that integrate with host applications. The goal is to achieve consistent enforcement and streamlined moderation across diverse environments while preserving auditability and control for moderators.

Core components of mBan typically include a central ban database that stores identifiers (such as usernames, emails, IP addresses, or device IDs) and ban metadata; a moderation API for issuing and lifting bans; and connectors or plugins for supported platforms. An appeal workflow and audit logs support transparency. Most deployments include role-based access controls, rate limiting, and data privacy safeguards.

Operation usually involves administrators managing bans through a dedicated interface, while host services query the central ban list via the API to enforce restrictions in real time. Some implementations support cross-domain bans, cross-service normalization of identifiers, and automatic expiration or escalation of punishments. The system is designed to be platform-agnostic, allowing different services to share a common ban policy.

History and status: the concept emerged in moderation tooling for online communities during the 2010s, with several independent projects adopting the mBan name. There is no single canonical standard; implementations vary in data models, privacy posture, and integration methods. As a result, discussions of mBan often refer to a family of related tools rather than a single, unified project.

See also: ban list, moderation tools, anti-abuse systems.