MSC4169: Backwards-compatible redaction sending using /send

proposals/4169-send-redact-backwards-compatibility.md

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+# MSC4169: Backwards-compatible redaction sending using `/send`
+[MSC2174] moved the `redacts` key from the top level to inside `content` for `v11` and later room versions. It
+also defined forwards- and backwards-compatibility for receiving by defining
+that servers will copy the key to both locations when serving events to clients, regardless of room version.
+The `/redact` endpoint is also forwards-compatible because it works in all room
+versions. However, `/send` was not made backwards-compatible. This means that
+clients can't switch to using `/send` unless they keep track of room versions.
+
+The inability to use `/send` in all room versions makes it more difficult for
+clients to abstract event sending without special-casing redactions and to
+implement features such as self-destructing messages (utilising [MSC4140]'s
+delayed events functionality, which is only implemented for `/send`).
+
+[MSC4140]: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/4140
+[MSC2174]: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2174
+
+## Proposal
+The proposed solution is to have the server move the `redacts` key from the
+content to the top level of the event when `/send/m.room.redaction` is called
+in a pre-v11 room.
+
+## Potential issues
+Servers that don't support this MSC may behave unexpectedly if a client tries
+to redact using `/send` in an old room. Synapse currently throws an assertion
+error (which turns into HTTP 500) when trying to redact with /send in a pre-v11
+room, which shouldn't cause any issues other than the request failing. Clients
+can avoid issues by confirming server support using `/versions` first.
+
+## Alternatives
+### Client-side switching
+Clients could remember room versions themselves and adjust the endpoint based
+on that. This works fine for thick clients which cache data locally anyway, but
+does not work for things like bots which have minimal local state.
+
+### Just use `/redact`
+`/redact` works fine for all room versions. We could discourage using `/send`
+for redactions and prefer `/redact` instead.
+
+### Deprecate `/redact`
+In addition to allowing `/send`, we could encourage everyone to switch over by
+formally deprecating `/redact`. However, there are some other sugar APIs like
+`/ban` which do nothing `/state` can't, so `/redact` is also kept fully
+supported for now. A future MSC may choose to deprecate it.
+
+## Security considerations
+This allows clients to send arbitrary content in pre-v11 redaction events.
+It shouldn't cause any security issues, as it's already possible in v11+ rooms
+or with a modified server.
+
+## Unstable prefix
+The endpoint itself has no unstable prefix as it can already be used to send
+redactions in v11+ rooms. Support for the transformation in old room versions
+can be detected using the `com.beeper.msc4169` unstable feature flag in the
+`/versions` response. The feature flag should continue to be advertised after
+the MSC is accepted until the server advertises support for the stable spec
+release that includes this MSC.
+
+## Dependencies
+None.