| Revision as of 23:09, 7 September 2024 view sourceRemsense (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Template editors60,951 editsm Reverted 1 edit by Hellocat99 (talk) to last revision by RandomstaplersTags: Twinkle Undo← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:14, 13 September 2024 view source BigBrain101213 (talk | contribs)15 edits ←Replaced content with 'Category:Internet trolling Category:Vandalism Category:Misplaced Pages reliability Category:Criticism of Misplaced Pages'Tags: Replaced Reverted Visual editNext edit → | ||
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| {{Short description|Malicious editing of Misplaced Pages}} | |||
| {{selfref|This is an article about vandalism on Misplaced Pages. For related internal pages, see ] and ].}} | |||
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| {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} | |||
| ]). Section of page content has been replaced with an insult.|alt=Text: "get a life losers"]] | |||
| On ], vandalism is editing the project in an intentionally disruptive or malicious manner. Vandalism includes any addition, removal, or modification that is intentionally ], nonsensical, a ], offensive, ] or degrading in any way. | |||
| Throughout its history, Misplaced Pages has struggled to maintain a balance between allowing the freedom of open editing and protecting the accuracy of its information when false information can be potentially damaging to its subjects.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2009/0825/wikipedia-testing-new-method-to-curb-false-info |title=Misplaced Pages testing new method to curb false info |journal=Christian Science Monitor |date=25 August 2009 |publisher=CSMonitor.com |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801003740/http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2009/0825/wikipedia-testing-new-method-to-curb-false-info |archive-date=1 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Vandalism is easy to commit on Misplaced Pages, because anyone can edit the site,<ref name=newscientist/><ref name=BBC>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4502846.stm | work=BBC News | title=Misplaced Pages tightens online rules | date=6 December 2005 | access-date=26 November 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213031907/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4502846.stm | archive-date=13 December 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> with the exception of ] (which, depending on the level of protection, can only be edited by users with certain privileges). Certain ] are capable of detecting and removing vandalism faster than any human editor could.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the 'bots' that edit Misplaced Pages |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18892510 |website=BBC News |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=25 July 2012 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916120633/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18892510 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| Vandalizing Misplaced Pages or otherwise causing disruption is against the site's ]. Vandals are often ], and may also be further banned according to the terms of use. Vandals could be banned either for just a few hours/days/months or indefinitely depending on the level of vandalism they have committed. Vandalism can be committed by either guest editors (IP addresses), or those with registered accounts (oftentimes accounts created solely to vandalize). | |||
| To combat inappropriate edits to articles which are frequently targeted by vandals, Misplaced Pages has instated a protection policy, serving as a user-privilege merit system. For example, a semi-protected or fully protected page can be edited only by accounts that meet certain account age and activity thresholds or ] respectively. Frequent targets of vandalism include articles on trending and controversial topics, celebrities, and current events.<ref name="Newzealand">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10432042|title=Misplaced Pages fights vandalism|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|last=Kleeman|first=Jenny|date=2 April 2007|access-date=25 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213202139/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10432042|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jun/18/wikipedia.news | location=London | work=] | first=Lorna | last=Martin | title=Misplaced Pages fights off cyber vandals | date=18 June 2006 | access-date=18 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228130822/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jun/18/wikipedia.news | archive-date=28 December 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> In some cases, people have been ]. This has notably happened to American rapper ].<ref name="ABC_AU_275942">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-01-28/vandals-prompt-wikipedia-to-ponder-editing-changes/275942?section=world |title=Vandals prompt Misplaced Pages to ponder editing changes |date=28 January 2009 |work=] |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015015938/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-01-28/vandals-prompt-wikipedia-to-ponder-editing-changes/275942?section=world |archive-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| == Prevention == | |||
| ] in June 2022]] | |||
| There are various measures taken by Misplaced Pages to prevent or reduce the amount of vandalism. These include: | |||
| * Using Misplaced Pages's history functionality, which retains all prior versions of an article, restoring the article to the last version before the vandalism occurred; this is called ''reverting'' vandalism.<ref name="Newzealand" /> The majority of vandalism on Misplaced Pages is reverted quickly.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Hicks|first=Jesse|title=This machine kills trolls|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/18/5412636/this-machine-kills-trolls-how-wikipedia-robots-snuff-out-vandalism|work=]|date=18 February 2014|access-date=18 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827115824/http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/18/5412636/this-machine-kills-trolls-how-wikipedia-robots-snuff-out-vandalism|archive-date=27 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> There are various ways in which the vandalism gets detected so it can be reverted: | |||
| **''Bots'': In some cases, the vandalism is automatically detected and reverted by a ]. The vandal is always warned with no human intervention. | |||
| ** ''Recent changes patrol'': Misplaced Pages has a special page that lists all the most recent changes. Some editors will monitor these changes for possible vandalism.<ref name="Broughton122">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&pg=PA122|title=Misplaced Pages: the missing manual|last=Broughton|first=John|year=2008|isbn=978-0-596-51516-4|page=122|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616042928/https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&pg=PA122|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ** ''Watchlists'': Any registered user can watch a page that they have created or edited or that they otherwise have an interest in. This functionality also enables users to monitor a page for vandalism.<ref name="Broughton122" /> | |||
| ** ''Incidental discovery'': Any reader who comes across vandalism by chance can revert it. In 2008, it was reported that the rarity of such incidental discovery indicated the efficacy of the other methods of vandalism removal.<ref name="Broughton122" /> | |||
| * Protecting articles so only established users, or in some cases, only ] can edit them.<ref name="Newzealand" /> ''Semi-protected'' articles are those that can be edited only by those with an account that is ''autoconfirmed'' (at least four days old with at least ten edits). ''Fully protected articles'' are those that can be edited only by administrators. Protection is generally instituted after one or more editors make a request on a special page for that purpose. An administrator familiar with the protection guidelines chooses whether or not to fulfill this request based on the guidelines. | |||
| * Blocking and banning those who have repeatedly committed acts of vandalism from editing for a period of time or in some cases, indefinitely.<ref name="Newzealand" /> Vandals are not blocked as an act of punishment{{snd}}the purpose of the block is simply to ] further damage.<ref name="Broughton134">{{cite book |title=Misplaced Pages: the missing manual |last=Broughton |first=John |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-596-51516-4 |page=134 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&q=%22edit+war%22wikipedia&pg=PA182 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=31 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231035857/https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&q=%22edit+war%22wikipedia&pg=PA182 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| * The "abuse filter" extension, which uses ] to detect common vandalism terms.{{efn|See ]}} | |||
| Editors are generally warned before being blocked. Misplaced Pages employs a 5-stage warning process leading up to a block. This includes:<ref name="Broughton130">{{cite book |title=Misplaced Pages: the missing manual |last=Broughton |first=John |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-596-51516-4 |pages=130–31 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&q=%22edit+war%22wikipedia&pg=PA182 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=31 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231035857/https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&q=%22edit+war%22wikipedia&pg=PA182 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| #The first warning "assumes ]" and takes a relaxed approach to the user. (in some cases, this level can be skipped if the editor assumes the user is acting in ]{{efn|See {{slink|Misplaced Pages:WikiProject User warnings/Usage and layout|Levels}}}}). | |||
| #The second warning does not assume any faith and is an actual warning (in some cases, this level may also be skipped). | |||
| #The third warning assumes ] and is the first to warn the user that continued vandalism may result in a block. | |||
| #The fourth warning is a final warning, stating that any future acts of vandalism will result in a block. | |||
| #After this, other users may place additional warnings, though only administrators can carry out the block. | |||
| In 2005, the ] started to require those who create new articles to have a registered account in an effort to fight vandalism. This occurred after inaccurate information was added to Misplaced Pages in which a journalist was accused of taking part in Kennedy's assassination.<ref name="newscientist">{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8425-wikipedia-tightens-editorial-rules-after-complaint.html |title=Misplaced Pages tightens editorial rules after complaint – 06 December 2005 |publisher=New Scientist |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015074757/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8425-wikipedia-tightens-editorial-rules-after-complaint.html |archive-date=15 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Efn|This is now known as the ].|name=b}} | |||
| Misplaced Pages has experimented with systems in which edits to some articles, especially those of living people, are delayed until it can be reviewed and determined that they are not vandalism, and in some cases, that a source to verify accuracy is provided. This is in an effort to prevent inaccurate and potentially damaging information about living people from appearing on the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/wikipedia_tests_approval_system_reduce_page_vandalism |title=Misplaced Pages Tests Approval System to Reduce Page Vandalism |publisher=Maximum PC |date=19 July 2008 |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810050703/http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/wikipedia_tests_approval_system_reduce_page_vandalism |archive-date=10 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ebrandz.com/miscellaneous/2009/2824-wikipedia-plans-to-enforce-new-editing-policy-to-thwart-vandals-.html |title=Misplaced Pages plans to enforce new editing policy to thwart vandals – eBrandz Search Marketing & Technology News |publisher=News.ebrandz.com |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621061552/http://news.ebrandz.com/miscellaneous/2009/2824-wikipedia-plans-to-enforce-new-editing-policy-to-thwart-vandals-.html |archive-date=21 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
| === ClueBot NG === | |||
| The most well-known ] that fights vandalism is <!-- don't link to userspace from here -->ClueBot NG. The bot was created by Misplaced Pages users Christopher Breneman and Naomi Amethyst in 2010 (succeeding the original ClueBot created in 2007; NG stands for Next Generation)<ref name=":0" /> and uses ] and ] to determine if an edit is vandalism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18892510|title=Meet the 'bots' that edit Misplaced Pages|last=Nasaw|first=Daniel|date=25 July 2012|website=BBC News|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916120633/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18892510|archive-date=16 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitfreak.com/technology/digital/1374-little-about-the-bot-that-runs-wikipedia,-cluebot-ng|title=Little about the bot that runs Misplaced Pages, ClueBot NG|last=Raja|first=Sumit|website=digitfreak.com|access-date=11 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122134216/http://www.digitfreak.com/technology/digital/1374-little-about-the-bot-that-runs-wikipedia,-cluebot-ng|archive-date=22 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| == Notable acts of vandalism == | |||
| === Seigenthaler incident === | |||
| {{main|Misplaced Pages Seigenthaler biography incident}} | |||
| ], who in 2005 criticized Misplaced Pages]] | |||
| In May 2005, a user edited the ] article about ] so that it contained several false and ] statements.<ref name=SeigenthalerUSAToday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-11-29-wikipedia-edit_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=29 November 2005|title=A false Misplaced Pages "biography"|first=John|last=Seigenthaler|author-link=John Seigenthaler|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106225139/http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-11-29-wikipedia-edit_x.htm|archive-date=6 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The inaccurate claims went unnoticed between May and September 2005, after which they were discovered by ], a friend of Seigenthaler. Misplaced Pages content is often mirrored at sites such as ], which means that incorrect information can be replicated alongside correct information through a number of websites. Such information can develop a misleading air of authority because of its presence at such sites:<ref name=SeigenthalerABC>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1613571.htm|title=Mistakes and hoaxes on-line|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 April 2006|access-date=28 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608054128/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1613571.htm|archive-date=8 June 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| {{quote| | |||
| Then son discovered that his father's hoax biography also appeared on two other sites, Reference.com and Answers.com, which took direct feeds from Misplaced Pages. It was out there for four months before Seigenthaler realized and got the Misplaced Pages entry replaced with a more reliable account. The lies remained for another three weeks on the mirror sites downstream. | |||
| }} | |||
| === Stephen Colbert === | |||
| {{See also|Cultural impact of The Colbert Report#Misplaced Pages references|label 1=Misplaced Pages references on The Colbert Report}} | |||
| ] in 2019]] | |||
| Comedian ] made repeated references to Misplaced Pages on his TV show '']'', frequently suggesting on-air that his viewers vandalize selected pages. These instances include the following: | |||
| * On a 2006 episode of his show, Colbert suggested viewers vandalize the article "]". This resulted in many elephant-related articles being protected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/08/01/did-colbert-hack-wikipedia-video/ |title=Did Colbert hack Misplaced Pages? – VIDEO |publisher=Tvsquad.com |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119215141/http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/08/01/did-colbert-hack-wikipedia-video/ |archive-date=19 January 2011 }}</ref> | |||
| * On 7 August 2012, Colbert suggested that his viewers go to pages for possible 2012 U.S. Republican vice-presidential candidates, such as the ] and ] articles, and edit them many times. This was in response to a ] hypothesis that mass editing of the ] page the day before she was announced as ]'s running mate could help predict who would be chosen as ]'s running mate in the ]. After Colbert's request and his viewers' subsequent actions, all these articles were put under {{srlink|Misplaced Pages:Protection policy#Semi-protection|semi-protection}} by Misplaced Pages administrators, with editing restricted to established users.<ref>{{cite web | title=Stephen Colbert's Misplaced Pages Vice Presidential Scheme Short Circuited | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colberts-wikipedia-vice-presidential-359985 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=8 August 2012 | access-date=8 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811002143/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colberts-wikipedia-vice-presidential-359985 | archive-date=11 August 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| === Hillsborough disaster vandalism === | |||
| {{Main|Hillsborough disaster Misplaced Pages posts}} | |||
| In April 2014, the '']'' reported that computers on an ] used by the ] had been used to post offensive remarks about the ] on Misplaced Pages pages relating to the subject. The government announced that it would launch an inquiry into the reports.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-27165844 |work=BBC News |title=Hillsborough Misplaced Pages posts were 'sickening', Cabinet Office says |publisher=BBC |date=25 April 2014 |access-date=25 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426161018/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-27165844 |archive-date=26 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the allegations, '']'' reported that government computers appeared to have been used to vandalize a number of other articles, often adding insulting remarks to biographical articles, and in one case falsely reporting a death.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/wikipedia/10791202/Des-Lynam-killed-by-a-giant-snowball-and-other-embarrassing-Misplaced Pages-edits-from-Whitehall-computers.html |title=Des Lynam 'killed by a giant snowball' and other embarrassing Misplaced Pages edits from Whitehall computers |first=Oliver |last=Duggan |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430164156/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/wikipedia/10791202/Des-Lynam-killed-by-a-giant-snowball-and-other-embarrassing-Misplaced Pages-edits-from-Whitehall-computers.html |archive-date=30 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| === Political vandalism === | |||
| ] was blanked twice on 22 July 2015.]] | |||
| Politicians are a common target of vandalism on Misplaced Pages. The article on ] was replaced with a single sentence critical of him in July 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=2015-07-22 |title=Someone just deleted Donald Trump's entire Misplaced Pages page |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/22/9014525/someone-just-deleted-donald-trumps-entire-wikipedia-page |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211723/https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/22/9014525/someone-just-deleted-donald-trumps-entire-wikipedia-page |archive-date=26 February 2018 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-22 |title=All The Content On Donald Trump's Misplaced Pages Page Was Just Deleted |url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-wikipedia-deleted |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723230722/http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-wikipedia-deleted |archive-date=23 July 2015 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Talking Points Memo |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Andrea |date=22 July 2015 |title=Donald Trump's Misplaced Pages page was deleted today. Twice. |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/22/donald-trumps-wikipedia-page-was-deleted-today-twice/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723235413/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/07/22/donald-trumps-wikipedia-page-was-deleted-today-twice/ |archive-date=23 July 2015}}</ref> and in November 2018, the lead picture on the page was replaced with an image of a penis, causing ]'s virtual assistant ] to briefly include this image in answers to queries about the subject.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/24/18110545/wikipedias-trump-penis-vandalism-account-hacking|title=Misplaced Pages's Trump penis vandals have struck again|last=Brandom|first=Russell|date=2018-11-24|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727030734/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/24/18110545/wikipedias-trump-penis-vandalism-account-hacking|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Both ] and ]'s Misplaced Pages pages were vandalized in October 2016 by a member of the ] group ] adding pornographic images to their articles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theslot.jezebel.com/hillary-and-bill-clintons-wikipedia-pages-subject-to-ex-1787755920|title=Internet Trolls Vandalize Hillary and Bill Clinton's Misplaced Pages Pages in Extremely NSFW Way|last=O'Connor|first=Brendan|date=13 October 2016|access-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013192508/http://theslot.jezebel.com/hillary-and-bill-clintons-wikipedia-pages-subject-to-ex-1787755920|archive-date=13 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, ] candidate ]'s Misplaced Pages page was modified to say that he had "never been part of the majority", and "is considered by many to be a total failure". Tedisco expressed dismay at the changes to his page.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20161022/assemblyman-tediscos-wikipedia-page-vandalized|title=Assemblyman Tedisco's Misplaced Pages vandalized|date=22 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025053740/http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20161022/assemblyman-tediscos-wikipedia-page-vandalized|archive-date=25 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 July 2018, United States Senator ] posted humorous ]s after ] claimed that he had died on 11 September 2017,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ehrlich |first1=Jamie |title=GOP senator says he is alive amid Google searches suggesting he is dead |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/24/politics/orrin-hatch-alive-google-search-dead/index.html |website=] |access-date=11 September 2018 |date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911114253/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/24/politics/orrin-hatch-alive-google-search-dead/index.html |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> with the error being traced back to an edit to his Misplaced Pages article.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Alex |title=Is Orrin Hatch dead? Let me Google that for you. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/07/24/is-orrin-hatch-dead-let-me-google-that-for-you/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=11 September 2018 |date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911081826/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/07/24/is-orrin-hatch-dead-let-me-google-that-for-you/ |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>] (24 July 2018), from ].</ref> Similarly, vandalism of the ]'s Misplaced Pages page caused Google's information bar to list ] as one of the party's primary ideologies.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Google Search Labeled the California GOP as Nazis, But It's No Conspiracy|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/google-search-california-gop-nazism/|access-date=2021-02-24|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302114147/https://www.wired.com/story/google-search-california-gop-nazism/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| The week of 29 January 2017 saw various acts of Misplaced Pages vandalism that attracted media attention. White House Press Secretary ]'s Misplaced Pages page was vandalized and his picture replaced with that of ], ]'s page description was edited to read that he was "the newest sock puppet for the Trump Administration", and ]'s picture was added to a list of ]s, with the edit summary stating that he was added due to his lack of a spine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/01/funny-wikipedia-edits-about-spicer-paul-ryan-and-yates.html|title=Misplaced Pages Edits Are the Only Joy in These Fraught Political Times|last=Kircher|first=Madison Malone|newspaper=Select All|language=en|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202113717/http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/01/funny-wikipedia-edits-about-spicer-paul-ryan-and-yates.html|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/us/article/Wikipedia-briefly-listed-politicians-and-other-10891261.php|title=Misplaced Pages briefly listed politicians and other invertebrates|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201214027/http://www.chron.com/news/politics/us/article/Wikipedia-briefly-listed-politicians-and-other-10891261.php|archive-date=1 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2017/01/31/from-strange-specimen-paul-ryan-uber-big-dropoff/vmUp4KMqD9wZ0Sq4utDK5I/story.html|title=From the strange specimen of Paul Ryan to Uber's big dropoff – The Boston Globe|newspaper=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202063213/http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2017/01/31/from-strange-specimen-paul-ryan-uber-big-dropoff/vmUp4KMqD9wZ0Sq4utDK5I/story.html|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| On 27 September 2018, the personal information of U.S. senators ], ], and Orrin Hatch were added to their respective Misplaced Pages articles during ] of Supreme Court nominee ]. The information included their home addresses and phone numbers, and originated from the network located from within the ]. The edits were removed from Misplaced Pages and hidden from public view shortly afterwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/republican-senators-doxed-while-interviewing-kavanaugh-1829376044|publisher=]|title=Republican Senators Doxed While Interviewing Kavanaugh|last=Cameron|first=Dell|date=27 September 2018|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170414/https://gizmodo.com/republican-senators-doxed-while-interviewing-kavanaugh-1829376044|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/someone-on-capitol-hill-just-doxxed-republican-sens-mike-lee-orrin-hatch-and-lindsey-graham|publisher=]|title=Someone on Capitol Hill just 'doxed' Republican Sens. Mike Lee, Orrin Hatch, and Lindsey Graham|last=Wegmann|first=Philip|date=27 September 2018|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170544/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/someone-on-capitol-hill-just-doxxed-republican-sens-mike-lee-orrin-hatch-and-lindsey-graham|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> These edits were captured and automatically posted publicly to ] by an automated account. Twitter shortly removed the posts and suspended the account in response to the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republican-senators-doxxed-on-wikipedia-by-someone-from-house-of-representatives-after-kavanaugh-hearing|publisher=]|title=Republican senators doxxed on Misplaced Pages by someone from House of Representatives after Kavanaugh hearing|last=Mikelionis|first=Lukas|date=28 September 2018|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030172015/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republican-senators-doxxed-on-wikipedia-by-someone-from-house-of-representatives-after-kavanaugh-hearing|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> An internal police investigation located the person who made the edits, and 27-year-old Jackson A. Cosko (a staffer for Congress paid by an outside institution) was arrested and charged with multiple felony crimes relating to the incident. Cosko was sentenced in 2019 to four years in prison after pleading guilty to five felonies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sns-tns-bc-congress-doxxing-20181003-story.html|work=]|title=Suspect in congressional doxxing cases arrested|last=Dick|first=Jason|date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030131240/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sns-tns-bc-congress-doxxing-20181003-story.html|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-date=30 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=Former Senate staffer admits to doxxing five senators on Misplaced Pages |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/5/18297353/jackson-cosko-senate-wikipedia-doxxing-kavanaugh-hearing-pleads-guilty-computer-fraud |website=] |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=en |date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426044428/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/5/18297353/jackson-cosko-senate-wikipedia-doxxing-kavanaugh-hearing-pleads-guilty-computer-fraud |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gerstein |first1=Josh |title=Ex-Hassan aide sentenced to 4 years for doxing senators |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/19/maggie-hassan-staff-doxing-case-1370529 |website=] |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=en |date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114213833/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/19/maggie-hassan-staff-doxing-case-1370529 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| === Miscellaneous === | |||
| * A vandal called "Willy on Wheels"{{anchor|Willy on Wheels}} moved thousands of articles so that their titles ended with "on wheels."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dee|first1=Jonathan|title=Misplaced Pages - Computers and the Internet - Encyclopedias - News and News Media|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/magazine/01WIKIPEDIA-t.html|access-date=26 May 2018|work=The New York Times|date=1 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001459/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/magazine/01WIKIPEDIA-t.html?_r=5&pagewanted=all|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| * In 2006, '']'' printed a story about ] based on false information from Misplaced Pages, which had arisen from an act of Misplaced Pages vandalism.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://en.wikinews.org/Rolling_Stone_prints_story_based_on_Wikipedia_vandalism |title=Rolling Stone prints story based on Misplaced Pages vandalism – Wikinews, the free news source |newspaper=Wikinews |date=22 December 2006 |publisher=En.wikinews.org |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308022149/http://en.wikinews.org/Rolling_Stone_prints_story_based_on_Wikipedia_vandalism |archive-date=8 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| * In the music video for ]'s 2006 song "]", Yankovic is shown editing the Misplaced Pages page for ], replacing the entire page with "YOU SUCK!" written in a large font; this was in reference to a dispute he had with Atlantic over the release of his song "]". The music video spawned copycat vandalism and Atlantic's page getting protected. ] writer Cameron Adams interviewed Yankovic in October 2006 and brought up the vandalism, to which Yankovic responded "I don't officially approve of that, but on a certain level it does amuse me".<ref name="Herald">{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Cameron |date=October 5, 2006 |title=Weird Al Yankovic |newspaper=] |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20523843-5006024,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201113103/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20523843-5006024,00.html |archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| * In February 2007, professional golfer ] sued a ] company whose IP-based edits to the Misplaced Pages site included negative information about him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.golfchannel.com/article/associated-press/zoeller-sues-identify-author-wikipedia-post|title=Zoeller Sues to Identify Author of Misplaced Pages Post|date=22 February 2007|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=2 October 2021|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002024550/https://www.golfchannel.com/article/associated-press/zoeller-sues-identify-author-wikipedia-post|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| * In August 2007, local media from the Netherlands reported that several IP addresses from ] had been blocked from Misplaced Pages for adding "false and defamatory" information to pages.<ref>{{cite news|title=Misplaced Pages blokkeert medewerkers publieke omroep|url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/recensies/wikipedia-blokkeert-medewerkers-publieke-omroep~a873862/|website=De Volkskrant|access-date=3 April 2017|language=nl|date=30 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403194857/http://www.volkskrant.nl/recensies/wikipedia-blokkeert-medewerkers-publieke-omroep~a873862/|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A similar incident occurred with the ] in France in January 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tual|first1=Morgane|title=Une adresse IP du ministère de l'intérieur bloquée sur Wikipédia pour " vandalisme "|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2016/01/13/une-adresse-ip-du-ministere-de-l-interieur-bloquee-sur-wikipedia-pour-vandalisme_4846544_4408996.html|website=LeMonde.fr|access-date=3 April 2017|language=fr|date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814223438/http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2016/01/13/une-adresse-ip-du-ministere-de-l-interieur-bloquee-sur-wikipedia-pour-vandalisme_4846544_4408996.html|archive-date=14 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| * In May 2012, media critic ] created a ] project, intending to raise money to make a series of videos exploring sexism in digital ].<ref>{{cite book|first=Carlen|last=Lavigne|title=Cyberpunk Women, Feminism and Science Fiction: A Critical Study|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1gOPZ_AQl5gC&pg=PA184|access-date=20 April 2013|date=24 January 2013|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-6653-5|page=184|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120021850/https://books.google.com/books?id=1gOPZ_AQl5gC&pg=PA184|url-status=live}}</ref> The idea evoked a hostile response,<ref name=dearinternet>{{cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/internet/2012/06/dear-internet-why-you-cant-have-anything-nice|publisher=New Statesman|title=Dear The Internet, This Is Why You Can't Have Anything Nice|first=Helen|last=Lewis|date=12 June 2012|access-date=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426103125/http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/internet/2012/06/dear-internet-why-you-cant-have-anything-nice|archive-date=26 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> which included repeated vandalism of Sarkeesian's Misplaced Pages article with pornographic imagery, defamatory statements, and threats of sexual violence.<ref name="Weckerle2013">{{cite book|first=Andrea|last=Weckerle|title=Civility in the Digital Age: How Companies and People Can Triumph over Haters, Trolls, Bullies and Other Jerks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=64P3Y_c-ufEC&pg=PT33|access-date=20 April 2013|date=13 February 2013|publisher=Que Publishing|isbn=978-0-13-313498-8|page=33|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721054730/https://books.google.com/books?id=64P3Y_c-ufEC&pg=PT33|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 12 IP addresses from unregistered editors contributed to the ongoing vandalism campaign before editing privileges were revoked for the page.<ref name=dearinternet/> | |||
| * {{anchor|Leveson report}} In November 2012, the ]{{snd}}published in the ] by ]{{snd}}incorrectly listed a "Brett Straub" as one of the founders of '']'' newspaper. The name originated from one of the several erroneous edits by one of Straub's friends as a prank to Misplaced Pages by falsely including his name in several articles across the site. The name's inclusion in the report suggested that part of the report relating to that newspaper had been cut and pasted from Misplaced Pages without a proper check of the sources.<ref name="Straub incident">{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Nick|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9723296/Wikipedia-the-25-year-old-student-and-the-prank-that-fooled-Leveson.html|title=Misplaced Pages, the 25-year-old student and the prank that fooled Leveson|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 December 2012|access-date=8 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131162315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9723296/Wikipedia-the-25-year-old-student-and-the-prank-that-fooled-Leveson.html|archive-date=31 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Straub in Independent">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/levesons-wikipedia-moment-how-internet-research-on-the-independents-history-left-him-redfaced-8372446.html|title=Leveson's Misplaced Pages moment: how internet 'research' on The Independent's history left him red-faced|author=Andy McSmith|work=The Independent|date=30 November 2012|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204151536/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/levesons-wikipedia-moment-how-internet-research-on-the-independents-history-left-him-redfaced-8372446.html|archive-date=4 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The Straub issue was also humorously referenced in broadcasts of BBC entertainment ] TV program '']'' (and extended edition ''Have I Got a Bit More News for You''),<ref name="Straub BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01p8g6s/Have_I_Got_News_for_You_Series_44_Episode_8|title=Have I Got News for You (series 44, episode 8) TV programme|date=7 December 2012|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211235319/http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01p8g6s/Have_I_Got_News_for_You_Series_44_Episode_8/|archive-date=11 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Straub HIGNFY">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1p6qSt0VbA|title=Have I Got News for You: Series 44, Episode 8 (Leveson clip)|date=7 December 2012|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110000423/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1p6qSt0VbA|archive-date=10 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> with '']'' also making passing comment on the issue: "The Leveson report{{nbsp}}... Parts of it are a scissors-and-paste job culled from Misplaced Pages."<ref>{{cite news|title=Hacked to pieces|url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567944-somewhat-mediocre-report-could-yet-lead-better-press-rules-britain-hacked-pieces|newspaper=The Economist|date=8 December 2012|access-date=8 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227113012/http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567944-somewhat-mediocre-report-could-yet-lead-better-press-rules-britain-hacked-pieces|archive-date=27 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| * In April 2015, '']'' reported on an experiment by "], a former editor, and prominent Misplaced Pages critic": "Kohs wrapped up an experiment in which he inserted outlandish errors into 31 articles and tracked whether editors ever found them. After more than two months, half of his hoaxes still had not been found{{snd}}and those included errors on high-profile pages, like "{{srlink|Mediterranean climate}}" and "{{srlink|inflammation}}". (By his estimate, more than 100,000 people have now seen the claim that ] produced by the ] causes inflammation pain.)"<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/04/15/the-great-wikipedia-hoax/ | title=The story behind Jar'Edo Wens, the longest-running hoax in Misplaced Pages history | date=15 April 2015 | access-date=19 October 2016 | author=Caitlin Dewey | newspaper=The Washington Post | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419001603/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/04/15/the-great-wikipedia-hoax/ | archive-date=19 April 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| * In August 2016, a sentence was added to ]'s Misplaced Pages page saying that he "Died at the hands of ], being literally blown out of the water by the greatest American since ]" after Phelps won the gold medal for 200-meter butterfly at the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/chad-le-clos-michael-phelps-olympic-games-rio-2016-gold-medal-race-highlights-video|title=Somebody trolled Chad Le Clos with the greatest Misplaced Pages page edit ever|date=10 August 2016|language=en-US|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810215835/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/chad-le-clos-michael-phelps-olympic-games-rio-2016-gold-medal-race-highlights-video|archive-date=10 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> This particular instance of Misplaced Pages vandalism attracted moderate media attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/Chad-Le-Clos-Misplaced Pages-Page-Edits-Says-Hes-Dead-Due-to-Phelps-Hands-389730721.html|title=Chad le Clos' Misplaced Pages Page Edited to Say Phelps Killed Him|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811134055/http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/Chad-Le-Clos-Misplaced Pages-Page-Edits-Says-Hes-Dead-Due-to-Phelps-Hands-389730721.html|archive-date=11 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| * On 25 April 2018, various pages related to American video game director ] were vandalized after a post went viral on ] stating that his page would no longer be semi-protected as of said date. Although Howard's page had its protection extended, a massive raid campaign vandalized many related pages. These included "''{{srlink|The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim}}''" (the most popular game he worked on), "{{srlink|Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania}}" (his hometown), and "{{srlink|Ferret (disambiguation)}}" (after a Misplaced Pages administrator who reversed the vandalism).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Feldman |first1=Brian |title=Dozens of Misplaced Pages Articles Are Being Vandalized Because of Todd Howard |url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/04/why-todd-howards-wikipedia-article-keeps-getting-vandalized.html |website=] |access-date=24 December 2018 |date=27 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121003255/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/04/why-todd-howards-wikipedia-article-keeps-getting-vandalized.html |archive-date=21 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| * On 16 August 2021, a template that was ] onto approximately 53,000 pages was replaced with a ]. The vandalism was reverted five minutes later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/wikipedia-template-swastika-vandalism-193049735.html|title=Misplaced Pages vandal adds swastikas to 53,000 pages|access-date=6 January 2023|archive-date=6 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106105932/https://www.engadget.com/wikipedia-template-swastika-vandalism-193049735.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| {{Portal|Internet|Society|Misplaced Pages}} | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| == Notes == | |||
| {{notelist}} | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| {{Misplaced Pages}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||