Wikipedia edits traced to CIA, FBI computers

Started by Sportsdude, Aug 16 07 04:42

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Sportsdude

WASHINGTON – People using CIA and FBI computers have edited entries in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia on topics including the Iraq war and the Guantanamo prison, according to a new tracing program.[/p]   The changes may violate Wikipedia's conflict-of-interest guidelines, a spokeswoman for the site said Thursday.[/p]   The program, WikiScanner, was developed by Virgil Griffith of the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico and posted this month on a Web site that was quickly overwhelmed with searches.[/p]   The program allows users to track the source of computers used to make changes to the popular Internet encyclopedia where anyone can submit and edit entries.[/p]   WikiScanner revealed that CIA computers were used to edit an entry on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. A graphic on casualties was edited to add that many figures were estimated and were not broken down by class.[/p]   Another entry on former CIA chief William Colby was edited by CIA computers to expand his career history and discuss the merits of a Vietnam War rural pacification program that he headed.[/p]   Aerial and satellite images of the U.S. prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were removed using a computer traced to the FBI, WikiScanner showed.[/p]   CIA spokesman George Little said he could not confirm whether CIA computers were used in the changes, adding that "the agency always expects its computer systems to be used responsibly."[/p]   The FBI did not have an immediate response.[/p][a href="vny!://www.thestar.com/News/article/247088"]vny!://www.thestar.com/News/article/247088[/a]
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"We can't stop here. This is bat country."

JJ

They have traced edits to the Canadian House of Commons too!