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Wikipedia to launch page controls | Wikipedia to launch page controls |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia is on the cusp of launching a major revamp to how people contribute to some pages. | The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia is on the cusp of launching a major revamp to how people contribute to some pages. |
The site will require that revisions to pages about living people and some organisations be approved by an editor. | The site will require that revisions to pages about living people and some organisations be approved by an editor. |
This would be a radical shift for the site, which ostensibly allows anyone to make changes to almost any entry. | This would be a radical shift for the site, which ostensibly allows anyone to make changes to almost any entry. |
The two-month trial, which has proved controversial with some contributors, will start in the next "couple of weeks", according to a spokesperson. | The two-month trial, which has proved controversial with some contributors, will start in the next "couple of weeks", according to a spokesperson. |
"I'm sure it will spark some controversy," Mike Peel of Wikimedia UK, a chapter of the organisation that operates Wikipedia, told BBC News. | |
However, he said, the trial had been approved in an an online poll, with 80% of 259 users in favour of the trial. | However, he said, the trial had been approved in an an online poll, with 80% of 259 users in favour of the trial. |
"The decision to run this trial was made by the users of the English Wikipedia, rather than being imposed." | "The decision to run this trial was made by the users of the English Wikipedia, rather than being imposed." |
The proposal was first outlined by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in January this year. It was met by a storm of protests from Wikipedia users who claimed the system had been poorly thought out or would create extra work. | The proposal was first outlined by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in January this year. It was met by a storm of protests from Wikipedia users who claimed the system had been poorly thought out or would create extra work. |
'Lock down' | 'Lock down' |
The two-month trial will test a system of "flagged revisions" on the English-language Wikipedia site. | The two-month trial will test a system of "flagged revisions" on the English-language Wikipedia site. |
This would mean any changes made by a new or unknown user would have to be approved by one of the site's editors before the changes were published. | This would mean any changes made by a new or unknown user would have to be approved by one of the site's editors before the changes were published. |
Whilst the changes are being mulled over, readers will be directed to earlier versions of the article. | Whilst the changes are being mulled over, readers will be directed to earlier versions of the article. |
Wikimedia said the system was "essentially a buffer, to reduce the visibility and impact of vandalism on these articles". | Wikimedia said the system was "essentially a buffer, to reduce the visibility and impact of vandalism on these articles". |
There have been several high-profile edits to pages that have given false or misleading information about a person. | There have been several high-profile edits to pages that have given false or misleading information about a person. |
For example, in January this year the page of US Senator Robert Byrd falsely reported that he had died. | For example, in January this year the page of US Senator Robert Byrd falsely reported that he had died. |
If a page has a number of controversial edits or is repeatedly vandalised, editors can lock a page, so that it cannot be edited by everyone. | If a page has a number of controversial edits or is repeatedly vandalised, editors can lock a page, so that it cannot be edited by everyone. |
For example, following initial reports of the death of Michael Jackson, editors had to lock down two pages to stop speculation about what had caused his death. | For example, following initial reports of the death of Michael Jackson, editors had to lock down two pages to stop speculation about what had caused his death. |
"For these articles, flagged protection will actually make them more open," said Mr Peel. | "For these articles, flagged protection will actually make them more open," said Mr Peel. |
The decision had been made to focus on the pages of living people, he said, because they were the "most high-profile pages with the highest probability of causing harm". | The decision had been made to focus on the pages of living people, he said, because they were the "most high-profile pages with the highest probability of causing harm". |
"[The trial] may also be extended to organisations which are currently operating," he added. | "[The trial] may also be extended to organisations which are currently operating," he added. |
The system has already been in operation on the German version of Wikipedia for more than a year. | The system has already been in operation on the German version of Wikipedia for more than a year. |
The changes to the English language site - which now has more than 3m pages - will be rolled out in the coming weeks, said Mr Peel. | The changes to the English language site - which now has more than 3m pages - will be rolled out in the coming weeks, said Mr Peel. |
The changes will be discussed in Buenos Aires this week at the annual Wikimania conference. | The changes will be discussed in Buenos Aires this week at the annual Wikimania conference. |
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