After WikiScanner was released last week, the program has enabled Internet users to easily uncover the sources of edits to Wikipedia articles originating from major corporations and entities such as ExxonMobil and the CIA.
While Wikipedia has always sought to regulate the validity of article postings and edits, the new service, developed independently by a computer science graduate student, allows Internet users to find out who is changing what.
Examples range from a Best Buy network computer being used to delete links to competitors of the Geek Squad technical support service, to a Pepsi Cola network computer being tracked as deleting information related to controversy surrounding the company.
WikiScanner also organizes a list of government, corporate and news edits, as well as featuring editors’ favorites.
Though WikiScanner can only reveal the network used to make the edit and not the individual user, and though Wikipedia may still not be a valid source for a term paper, the ability to detect potential attempts from major corporations, nonprofit organizations and government entities to manipulate information helps legitimize Wikipedia as a quick, mostly reliable reference source.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board.