PoliticsPoliticswikipedia ban

Wikipedia Bans Changes From Anonymous House Users After 'Disruptive Editing'

Wikipedia Bans Changes From Anonymous House Users After 'Disruptive Editing'
Open Image Modal
By 

Editor, HuffPost

|
Open Image Modal

Wikipedia has instituted a 10-day ban on edits from anonymous users from a single House IP address because of "persistent disruptive editing."

The ban, which began Thursday, is in response to edits such as one that called the news source Mediaite a "sexist transphobic" blog "that automatically assumes that someone is male without any evidence."

The changes were made after Mediaite wrote about increasingly off-kilter edits from Capitol Hill following the launch of @congressedits, a Twitter account that publicizes anonymous edits from congressional IP addresses.

The article was sparked by reporting from Pando Daily, which looked into a number of recent changes regarding conspiracy theories that were highlighted by @congressedits. For example, the "Moon landing conspiracy theories" page was edited from a House IP address to say it was "promoted by the Cuban government."

"That same IP address recently edited the page dedicated to Diana Princess of Wales (adding in her reputation as a markswoman), COINTELPRO (removing the claim that the FBI acted illegally) and Bohemian Grove (adding the single word 'allegedly')," Pando Daily reported.

The user talk page for the banned House IP address now includes a lengthy back-and-forth between would-be editors and Wikipedia administrators.

"Out of over 9000 staffers in the House, should we really be banning this whole IP range based on the actions of two or three?" one person asks, to which an administrator noted that users who sign in to their own Wikipedia account are still able to make edits from the House IP address during the ban.

Later in the thread, someone expresses anger that members of Congress would be playing on Wikipedia, to which another user says the edits are likely being made by staffers. However, there's no way to know for sure.

(h/t The Hill)

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

HAHA: Politicians Cracking Up
Barack Obama(01 of13)
Open Image Modal
US President Barack Obama laughs while speaking during a campaign event at the Cincinnati Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio , July 16, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Mitt Romney and Nikki Haley(02 of13)
Open Image Modal
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - JANUARY 13: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (L) and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, laugh as they listen to U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speak during a campaign rally at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort on January 13, 2012 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Romney continues to campaign for votes in South Carolina ahead of their primary on January 21. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Bill Clinton and Carlos Slim(03 of13)
Open Image Modal
Former US President Bill Clinton and Mexican businessman Carlos Slim laugh during the signing of an agreement for economic support to Colombia, Mexico and Peru in Mexico City, on August 4 2008. AFP PHOTO/Luis ACOSTA (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Hillary Clinton and David Cameron(04 of13)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 14: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and British Prime Minister David Cameron share a laugh during a lunch hosted at the State Department on March 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. Cameron is on an official visit to Washington, where President Obama will host him at a State Dinner tonight. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Joe Biden and Barack Obama(05 of13)
Open Image Modal
US President Barack Obama (R) laughs alongside US Vice President Joe Biden prior to signing the healthcare insurance reform legislation during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 23, 2010. Obama Tuesday signed into law sweeping reforms that will for the first time ensure health care coverage for almost every American. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Al Gore(06 of13)
Open Image Modal
SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 11: Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore laughs as he attends a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer?s (D-CA) 2010 re-election campaign October 11, 2007 in San Francisco, California. Al Gore is nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace prize for his efforts to bring attention to global warming. The prize winner will be announced on October 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
George W. Bush(07 of13)
Open Image Modal
US President George W. Bush watches the women's preliminary basketball match between the US and Czech Republic at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 9, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Gabriel Bouys (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sarah Palin(08 of13)
Open Image Modal
Republican vice presidential cadidate Sarah Palin (L) shares a laughter with supporters at the end of a campaign rally at the Home Depot Center in Carson on October 4, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
John Boehner and Byron Dorgan(09 of13)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON - MAY 20: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) (C) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) laugh before a joint session of the U.S. Congress on the floor of the House House of Representatives at the U.S. Captiol May 20, 2010 in Washington, DC. Mexican President Felipe Calderon addressed the joint session and talked about immigration and asked the Congress to reinstate the assult weapons ban to help control the flow of weapons into Mexico from the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Dick Cheney(10 of13)
Open Image Modal
LARAMIE, WY - SEPTEMBER 27: U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney laughs during an exchange with former U.S. Senator Al Simpson at a fund-raiser for the University of Wyoming Foundation September 27, 2002 in Laramie, Wyoming. (Photo by Michael Smith/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Michele Bachmann(11 of13)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 05: U.S Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) (2nd L) laughs with colleagues after Rep. John Boehner was elected the new Speaker of the House January 5, 2011 in Washington, DC. The 112th U.S. Congress was sworn-in today, with Republican legislators taking control of the House of Representatives and expected to begin attempts to dismantle portions of U.S. President Barack Obamas legislative agenda. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
John McCain(12 of13)
Open Image Modal
Republican presidential candidate John McCain laughs at a joke made by Senator Joe Lieberman during a campaign rally the Henderson Pavilion in Henderson, Nevada on November 3, 2008. One day before the US presidential election McCain is making a seven-state cross-country blitz in the effort to win votes in the contest against Democratic opponent Barack Obama. AFP PHOTO /Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Ronald and Nancy Reagan(13 of13)
Open Image Modal
402010 02: Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan share a laugh in this undated file photo. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 4th 2002. (Photo courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidental Library/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip