Wikipedia blocks paid-for entries scam
Print Edition
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, has blocked almost 400 accounts being used by people being paid to create or tweak entries.
Weeks of investigation revealed 381 accounts being used at the English version of Wikipedia for “black hat” editing in which people took money to promote outside interests without disclosing they were on someone’s payroll, according to a blog post.
Wikipedia editors who led the investigation found reason to believe that some tactics used were malicious and might even be considered extortion.
In some cases, people pretending to represent Wikipedia reached out to subjects of articles seeking payment.
“At other times, these individuals would threaten to delete the article if the subjects of the article failed to make payment,” Wikipedia said.
“Neutrality is key to ensuring Wikipedia’s quality,” Ed Erhart and Juliet Barbara of the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation said in the blog post.
“Although it does not happen often, undisclosed paid advocacy editing may represent a serious conflict of interest and could compromise the quality of content on Wikipedia.”
Wikipedia editors also deleted 210 articles created by people using the 381 accounts.
The accounts were used from April to early August, but the nature of edits suggested the paid-scheme was operating “for some time,” Wikipedia said.
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