MSC4044: Enforcing user ID grammar in rooms

proposals/4044-strict-user-id-grammar-in-rooms.md

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+# MSC4044: Enforcing user ID grammar in rooms
+
+The specification presently allows for a "historical" grammar for user IDs, described
+[here](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.7/appendices/#historical-user-ids) and clarified by
+[PR #1506](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec/pull/1506). The use of this historical
+character set has allowed for "weird" and generally not-great user IDs to appear in the wild,
+causing a variety of issues for software projects.
+
+This proposal uses a future room version to strictly use the
+[non-historical grammar](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.7/appendices/#user-identifiers) for user IDs,
+preventing historical IDs from joining and participating in those room versions.
+
+Matrix does not currently specify a way for a user with a historical ID to fix their user ID,
+however it is envisioned that account portability will exist around the time of this MSC's
+acceptance to provide an escape route. This is discussed in further detail in the "Potential Issues"
+section.
+
+## Proposal
+
+In a future room version, the [non-historical grammar](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.7/appendices/#user-identifiers)
+for user IDs is strictly enforced on all places a user ID can appear in an event. For example, the
+`sender` of all events and `state_key` of `m.room.member` MUST match the grammar. All user IDs which
+use the historical grammar, by any definition, are considered non-compliant.
+
+By making this change in a room version, non-compliant user IDs are slowly removed from the public
+federation. Several rooms will naturally upgrade to a room version which includes this MSC's change
+after it becomes available in servers, and eventually the specification will update the
+[recommended default room version](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.7/rooms/#complete-list-of-room-versions)
+to include this MSC's change as well to affect new room creation.
+
+In short, this MSC starts a multi-year process to formally phase out non-compliant user IDs as new
+(and existing through upgrades) rooms use a room version which bans such user IDs.
+
+## Potential issues
+
+Though the intention of this MSC is to deliberately prevent non-compliant user IDs from appearing
+in rooms, there are real users which are affected. The author is of the opinion that wildly non-compliant
+user IDs (such as those using obscure unicode codepoints) should expect to be unable to participate,
+however it is unfair to expect the same for users which innocently used capital letters in their
+localparts. For example, `@Alice:example.org` should be provided a path to fix their user ID so they
+can continue participating in conversations, without having to create a whole new account.
+
+It is expected that Matrix accepts an MSC to support "account portability", giving users the option
+of cross-server and local account transfers. A user could initiate a transfer to fix their user ID
+to be compliant with the specification and thus allow them to join rooms employing this MSC's change.
+
+If account portability supports it, a server could additionally self-initiate a transfer to fix
+simple casing conflicts (ie: migrate `@Alice:example.org` to `@alice:example.org`). Servers are not
+advised to "merge" accounts nor are they advised to manually fix "weird" user IDs on behalf of the
+users. Instead, they should wait for a user-initiated transfer. For example, if `@Alice` and `@alice`
+are both registered when the server wants to fix casing of its user IDs, the server *should not*
+attempt to merge the two accounts nor should `@Alice` become `@alice2`. The user should be given
+the opportunity to select a new (non-conflicting) localpart at their convenience.
+
+Clients can additionally detect when the logged in account has a non-compliant user ID and prompt
+them to self-initiate a transfer, provided the server supports such a transfer.
+
+Account portability in Matrix is, as of writing, progressing under the pseudo IDs project. Prior
+art for such MSCs include:
+
+* [MSC1228: Removing MXIDs from events](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/1228)
+* [MSC2787: Portable Identities](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2787)
+* [MSC3839: Primary-identity-as-key](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/3839)
+* [MSC4014: Pseudonymous Identities](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/4014)
+
+The general idea is that by breaking the association of user IDs with events, it becomes possible for
+the user ID to change without affecting the events themselves. In the interim, MSCs like this one
+help limit the ability for non-compliant IDs to spread (and provide a useful way for association-breaking
+MSCs to only support compliant IDs).
+
+## Alternatives
+
+We don't do this, or hope that pseudo IDs fix the problem.
+
+## Security considerations
+
+This MSC improves the security posture of the protocol by reducing the likelihood of strange characters
+appearing in user IDs.
+
+## Unstable prefix
+
+This MSC can be implemented in a room version identified as `org.matrix.msc4044`. A future MSC will
+be required to incorporate this MSC into a stable room version.
+
+## Dependencies
+
+As of writing, this MSC is required by the Spec Core Team's documents/proposals within the MIMI working
+group at the IETF.