‘A difficult line’: meet the editors tackling Wikipedia’s arms trade pages
Volunteers and new recruits come together for ‘wikithon’ to put more detail about industry into public domain “Anyone can edit Wikipedia,” the adage goes. But, it turns out, a relatively small number actually do. What is worthy of a digital page in the world’s largest and most-read encyclopedia is decided by roughly 270,000 active volunteers, enthusiasts who populate the online resource with…
Wikipedia is a massive online encyclopedia edited by roughly 270,000 active volunteers. While the platform is open to anyone, the quality and organization of information can vary. A group of volunteers recently gathered in London for a "wikithon" to improve the coverage of the arms industry on Wikipedia. The event aimed to add more detailed and well-organized content about companies like Palantir, Project Maven, and Nitro-Chem.
Co-founder Agnes Cameron explained that the goal was not to promote anti-arms industry activism, but rather to provide factual information in line with Wikipedia's standards. Attendees included volunteers of various ages, genders, and backgrounds, reflecting a broader demographic on Wikipedia. This inclusivity is seen as crucial to rebalancing the platform's often western-centric and male-dominated content.
The experience of contributing to Wikipedia is empowering for many, as edits appear instantly on the internet. However, the group stresses the importance of following Wikipedia's rules and avoiding original research, ethical conflicts, and promoting subjective agendas. Despite these challenges, the event organizers hope to formalize the group's efforts into a WikiProject, expanding the impact of their work in the future.
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