6
Wikipedia Bars Edits From Scientology Addresses
Move is site's first such action against major organization
By Matt Cantor
|
Posted May 29, 09 10:24 AM CDT
|
Share
(Newser)
–
In an unusually broad push against posting biased content, Wikipedia’s “supreme court” has banned edits from IP addresses associated with Scientology headquarters and its affiliates, the Register reports. The Wikipedia Arbitration Committee voted 10-0 for the ban. Individual “Wikifiddlers” have had their privileges revoked in the past, but the move is the site’s first crackdown on a well-known group for a self-promotional breach.
The site says it opposes users editing “to promote their own interests.” Site administrators, concerned about “Wikipedia's reputation for neutrality," had observed the editing of Scientology articles “from Church of Scientology equipment and apparently coordinating their activities.” Said a former Scientology official: “The guys I worked with posted every day all day” on the Web, aiming “to refute any facts from the Internet about the Church of Scientology.”