Wikipedia, the popular online user-submission encyclopedia, is stopping the public from posting information on its Web site after complaints of doctoring.
Instead, only selected “trusted editors” will be allowed access to it. Web users will still be able to suggest changes to entries, but will have to be vetted first.
The move comes after some info on US-based Wikipedia – viewed daily by seven per cent of all Internet users – was deliberately distorted, leading to complaints that the site is inaccurate.
CIA staff changed the profiles of former US Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and US Congress staff removed embarrassing and negative information about some senators.
The new checking system will be tried out first on the German version of the site.
“Nothing has been set in stone, but it’s almost certain that changes will be made to the German version of the site in November. Depending on how the trial goes, we will consider applying them to the English version,” said Wikipedia’s David Gerard.
A screening program called WikiScanner is also being used, along with another software that rates the reliability of editors.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmp...7&contentid=200709222007092203011767172e9ad11
Instead, only selected “trusted editors” will be allowed access to it. Web users will still be able to suggest changes to entries, but will have to be vetted first.
The move comes after some info on US-based Wikipedia – viewed daily by seven per cent of all Internet users – was deliberately distorted, leading to complaints that the site is inaccurate.
CIA staff changed the profiles of former US Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and US Congress staff removed embarrassing and negative information about some senators.
The new checking system will be tried out first on the German version of the site.
“Nothing has been set in stone, but it’s almost certain that changes will be made to the German version of the site in November. Depending on how the trial goes, we will consider applying them to the English version,” said Wikipedia’s David Gerard.
A screening program called WikiScanner is also being used, along with another software that rates the reliability of editors.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmp...7&contentid=200709222007092203011767172e9ad11