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Revision as of 14:38, 29 January 2014 view sourceJayen466 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Mass message senders, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers56,626 edits →Investigation and company reaction: add how use of fake sources aided investigators← Previous edit Latest revision as of 15:41, 3 November 2024 view source Queen of Hearts (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Administrators32,801 edits →See also: MOS:NOTSEEAGAIN 
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{{Short description|Consulting firm that commercially edited Misplaced Pages}}
{{NPOV|date=January 2014}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox company {{Infobox company
| name = Wiki-PR | name = Wiki-PR
| logo = | logo = Wiki-PR-logo.jpg
| caption = | type = Consulting firm
| caption = Manage your image | traded_as =
| industry = ], ]
⚫ | type =
| traded_as = | predecessor =
| foundation = 2010<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.wiki-pr.com/| title= Wiki-PR: Misplaced Pages Writers For Hire| work= Wiki-PR.com| date= | accessdate= 2013-10-22}}</ref> | foundation = 2010<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.wiki-pr.com/| title= Wiki-PR: Misplaced Pages Writers For Hire| work= Wiki-PR.com| access-date= 2013-10-22| archive-date= June 10, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210610092441/https://wiki-pr.com/| url-status= live}}</ref>
| founder = {{ubl| ]<ref>{{cite web| url= http://BBC.co.UK/news/technology-24613608 | title= Misplaced Pages probe into paid-for 'sockpuppet' entries| work= ]| date= 2013-10-21 | accessdate= 2013-10-22}}</ref><ref name= "Wiki-PR-Leadership">{{cite web | url=https://www.wiki-pr.com/leadership/ | title=Leadership | work=Wiki-PR website | accessdate=26 January 2014 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20131021005057/https://www.wiki-pr.com/leadership/ | archivedate=21 October 2013}}</ref>| Darius Fisher<ref name= "Wiki-PR-Leadership" />}} | founder = {{unbulleted list| Jordan French<ref>{{cite web| url= https://BBC.co.UK/news/technology-24613608| title= Misplaced Pages probe into paid-for 'sockpuppet' entries| work= ]| date= October 21, 2013| access-date= 2013-10-22| archive-date= November 5, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211105175659/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24613608| url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Wiki-PR-Leadership">{{cite web | url=https://www.wiki-pr.com/leadership/ | title=Leadership | work=Wiki-PR website | access-date=2014-01-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021005057/https://www.wiki-pr.com/leadership/ | archive-date=2013-10-21}}</ref>| Darius Fisher<ref name="Wiki-PR-Leadership" />}}
| location_city = ] | location_city = ]
| locations =
⚫ | location_country= ]
| locations = | area_served =
⚫ | key_people = {{unbulleted list| Jordan French (])<ref name="Wiki-PR-Leadership" />| Darius Fisher (])<ref name="Wiki-PR-Leadership" />}}
| area_served =
⚫ | products =
⚫ | key_people = {{ubl| Jordan French (])<ref name= "Wiki-PR-Leadership" />| Darius Fisher (])<ref name= "Wiki-PR-Leadership" />}}
| industry = ] | revenue =
⚫ | operating_income =
⚫ | products =
| revenue = | net_income =
⚫ | assets =
⚫ | operating_income=
| net_income = | equity =
| assets = | num_employees =
| equity = | subsid =
⚫ | location_country = United States
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20121223150544/https://wiki-pr.com/|wiki-pr.com (archived)}}
⚫ | subsid =
}}
| homepage = {{url| Wiki-PR.com| Wiki-PR.com}}
}}


'''Wiki-PR''' was a ] that marketed the ability to edit ] by "directly edit your page using our network of established Misplaced Pages editors and admins".<ref>{{cite web|first1=Martin|last1=Robbins|access-date=2019-12-15|title=Is the PR Industry Buying Influence Over Misplaced Pages?|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kwpqmn/is-the-pr-industry-buying-influence-over-wikipedia|date=October 18, 2013|website=]|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218222119/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kwpqmn/is-the-pr-industry-buying-influence-over-wikipedia|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Wiki-PR''' is a ] that formerly marketed its ability to edit ].<ref name="vice_is">{{cite web|title=Is Misplaced Pages for Sale? |url=http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/is-wikipedia-for-sale|last=Robbins|first=Martin|date=2013-10-20|accessdate=2013-10-20|work=motherboard.vice.com|quote=We'll both directly edit your page using our network of established Misplaced Pages editors and admins}}</ref> It was then banned, including all of its employees, contractors, and owners, by the Misplaced Pages community for unethical editing. Despite the ban, the firm currently markets its ability to consult clients on how to interact with the Misplaced Pages community.<ref name= "Wiki-PR">{{cite web| url= http://wiki-pr.com/| title= Wiki-PR: The Misplaced Pages Consultants| work= Wiki-PR.com| accessdate= 2013-12-27|quote=We consult thousands of people and companies on how to interact with the Misplaced Pages community}}</ref> The company gained media attention in 2013 after a ] investigation related to the company that saw 250 Misplaced Pages user accounts blocked or banned.<ref>http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/10/wikipedia-editors-locked-in-battle-with-pr-firm-delete-250-accounts/</ref>

It received media attention in 2013 after a ] investigation resulted in more than 250 Misplaced Pages user accounts being blocked or banned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/10/wikipedia-editors-locked-in-battle-with-pr-firm-delete-250-accounts/|title=Misplaced Pages editors, locked in battle with PR firm, delete 250 accounts|work=Ars Technica|last1=Mullin|first1=Joe|date=October 22, 2013|access-date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609082149/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/10/wikipedia-editors-locked-in-battle-with-pr-firm-delete-250-accounts/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ] changed its ] in the wake of the investigation, requiring anyone paid to edit Misplaced Pages to openly disclose their affiliations.<ref name=wsj2014 /><ref name=WMFblog /> Despite the ban, ], a firm started in 2012 by Wiki-PR founders Fisher and French, continued to edit clients' Misplaced Pages articles according to former employees.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Rachael|last1=Levy|access-date=2019-12-15|title=How the 1% Scrubs Its Image Online|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-1-scrubs-its-image-online-11576233000|website=]|date=December 13, 2019|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215014323/https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-1-scrubs-its-image-online-11576233000|url-status=live}}</ref> Wiki-PR has been inactive since 2013.{{refn|Neither the Wiki-PR website nor its social media pages have been updated since 2013, and there are no signs of the organisation having been active since.}}


== Company == == Company ==


Wiki-PR was created in 2010 by Darius Fisher, its current ], and Jordan French, its current ].<ref name="Wiki-PR-Leadership"/> Confirmed clients include ] and Emad Rahim, and suspected clients include ], among many others.<ref name="vice_is"/> The firm claimed to have administrator access<ref name="vice_is"/> enabling it to manage the Misplaced Pages presence of more than {{nowrap|12,000 clients.}}<ref name=refwikipr>{{cite web|title=Wiki-PR homepage|url=http://www.wiki-pr.com/|work=Wiki-PR|accessdate=2013-10-19}}</ref> Wiki-PR has been reported to use "aggressive email marketing" to acquire new customers.<ref name=Owens/> Wiki-PR was created in 2010 by Darius Fisher, its ] as of 2014, and Jordan French, its ] as of 2014.<ref name="Wiki-PR-Leadership"/> Confirmed clients include ] and Emad Rahim, and suspected clients include ], among many others.<ref name="vice_is">{{cite web|title=Is Misplaced Pages for Sale? |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/blog/is-wikipedia-for-sale|last=Robbins|first=Martin|date=October 20, 2013|access-date=2013-10-20|work=motherboard.vice.com|quote=We'll both directly edit your page using our network of established Misplaced Pages editors and admins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026151816/https://motherboard.vice.com/blog/is-wikipedia-for-sale|archive-date=2013-10-26}}</ref> The firm claimed to have ] access<ref name="vice_is"/> enabling it to manage the Misplaced Pages presence of more than {{nowrap|12,000 clients.}}<ref name=refwikipr>{{cite web|title=Wiki-PR |url=https://www.wiki-pr.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020050256/https://www.wiki-pr.com/ |archive-date=2013-10-20 |website=Wiki-PR|access-date=2013-11-14}} archived November 14, 2013</ref> Wiki-PR has been reported to use "aggressive ]" to acquire new customers.<ref name=Owens/>


== Investigation and company reaction == == Investigation and company reaction ==
⚫ An investigation of ] accounts on Misplaced Pages that began in 2012 implicated hundreds of accounts. Wiki-PR's involvement was confirmed after four customers of Wiki-PR spoke anonymously to '']'' journalist Simon Owens, and two others, ] and Emad Rahim, spoke to '']'' journalist Martin Robbins.<ref name="Owens">{{cite news |last=Owens |first=Simon |title=The battle to destroy Misplaced Pages's biggest sockpuppet army |url=https://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/wikipedia-sockpuppet-investigation-largest-network-history-wiki-pr/ |access-date=2013-10-20 |newspaper=] |date=October 8, 2013 |archive-date=May 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525133631/http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/wikipedia-sockpuppet-investigation-largest-network-history-wiki-pr/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Robbins">{{cite news|last=Robbins|first=Martin|title=Is the PR Industry Buying Influence Over Misplaced Pages?|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/is-the-pr-industry-buying-influence-over-wikipedia|access-date=October 19, 2013|magazine=]|date=October 19, 2013|archive-date=March 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301023358/http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/is-the-pr-industry-buying-influence-over-wikipedia|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to violating rules against sockpuppeting, Wiki-PR violated Misplaced Pages rules by citing articles that were planted on business ]s and various other websites that accept contributions from any Internet user as sources for Misplaced Pages entries, creating a false impression of ].<ref name="Robbins" /> The same websites were used repeatedly, and their presence in various Misplaced Pages articles aided investigators in identifying articles the company had worked on.<ref name="Robbins" />
{{external media | width = 210px | align = right | audio1 = , ], interview with Simon Owens, October 24, 2013 }}
⚫ An investigation of sockpuppet accounts on Misplaced Pages, beginning in 2012, implicated hundreds of accounts. Wiki-PR's involvement was confirmed after four customers of Wiki-PR spoke anonymously to Daily Dot journalist Simon Owens, and two, ] and Emad Rahim, spoke to Vice journalist Martin Robbins.<ref name=Owens>{{cite news|last=Owens|first=Simon|title=The battle to destroy Misplaced Pages's biggest sockpuppet army |url=http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/wikipedia-sockpuppet-investigation-largest-network-history-wiki-pr/ |accessdate=2013-10-20 |newspaper=] |date=2013-10-08}}</ref><ref name=Robbins>{{cite news|last=Robbins|first=Martin|title=Is the PR Industry Buying Influence Over Misplaced Pages?|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/is-the-pr-industry-buying-influence-over-wikipedia|accessdate=2013-10-19 |newspaper=VICE|date=2013-10-19}}</ref> In addition to violating rules against sockpuppeting, Wiki-PR violated Misplaced Pages rules by citing articles planted on business content farms and various other websites that accept contributions from any Internet user as sources for Misplaced Pages entries, creating a false impression of credibility.<ref name=Robbins /> The same websites were used repeatedly, and their presence in various Misplaced Pages articles aided investigators in identifying articles the company had worked on.<ref name=Robbins /> The use of a company to manage the content of Misplaced Pages violates several Misplaced Pages rules, including the rule against asserting ownership of a page,{{notinsource}} and has led to the Misplaced Pages community blocking hundreds of paid Misplaced Pages editing accounts believed to be connected with activities of Wiki-PR contrary to Misplaced Pages's rules.<ref name=Owens /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/21/wikipedia-bans-250-users-for-posting-paid-promotional-entries/|title=Misplaced Pages Bans 250 Users for Posting Paid, Promotional Entries|last=Stampler|first=Laura|work=]|date=2013-10-21|accessdate=2013-11-19}}</ref>{{Cref2|note 1}} In 2014 the ] described Wiki-PR's methods as:
{{Quote|(Wiki-PR) uses a lot of people, with different identities, to edit pages for paying customers and to manage those pages. The paid sock puppets are ready to pounce on edits that don’t adhere to the client’s vision.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Judith|title=Misplaced Pages-Mania Misplaced Pages, What Does Judith Newman Have to Do to Get a Page?|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/fashion/Wikipedia-Judith-Newman.html?_r=0|accessdate=January 11, 2014|newspaper=New York Times|date=January 8, 2014}}</ref>}}


The investigation led to the Misplaced Pages community blocking hundreds of paid Misplaced Pages editing accounts believed to be connected to Wiki-PR that had edited contrary to Misplaced Pages's rules.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/21/wikipedia-bans-250-users-for-posting-paid-promotional-entries/ |title=Misplaced Pages Bans 250 Users for Posting Paid, Promotional Entries |last=Stampler |first=Laura |magazine=] |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108121120/http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/21/wikipedia-bans-250-users-for-posting-paid-promotional-entries/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In ''The Wall Street Journal'', French stated that Wiki-PR is a research and writing firm, counseling clients on "how to adhere to Misplaced Pages's rules." French stated that its paid work is part of the "fabric" of Misplaced Pages, complementing the work of unpaid volunteers. French acknowledged that Wiki-PR had sometimes made "bad calls" on notability of articles. He also stated "We do pay hundreds of other editors for their work—they're real people and not sockpuppets."<ref name=wsj>{{cite web|last=Fowler|first=Geoffrey|title=Misplaced Pages Probes Suspicious Promotional Articles|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/10/21/wikipedia-probes-suspicious-promotional-articles/|work=]|accessdate=2013-11-17|date=2013-10-21}}</ref>


In 2014 '']'' described Wiki-PR's methods:<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |last=Newman |first=Judith |title=Misplaced Pages-Mania: Misplaced Pages, What Does Judith Newman Have to Do to Get a Page? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/fashion/Wikipedia-Judith-Newman.html?_r=0 |access-date=November 1, 2014 |work=] |date=January 8, 2014 |archive-date=January 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123054326/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/fashion/Wikipedia-Judith-Newman.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫ == Misplaced Pages and Wikimedia reaction ==
{{quote| uses a lot of people, with different identities, to edit pages for paying customers and to manage those pages. The paid sock puppets are ready to pounce on edits that don't adhere to the client's vision.}}


In '']'', French was quoted as saying that Wiki-PR is a research and writing firm, counseling clients on "how to adhere to Misplaced Pages's rules". French said that its paid work is part of the "fabric" of Misplaced Pages, complementing the work of unpaid volunteers. French acknowledged that Wiki-PR had sometimes made "bad calls" on the notability of articles. He also said that "We do pay hundreds of other editors for their work—they're real people and not sockpuppets."<ref name="wsj">{{cite web |last=Fowler |first=Geoffrey |title=Misplaced Pages Probes Suspicious Promotional Articles |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/10/21/wikipedia-probes-suspicious-promotional-articles/ |work=] |access-date=November 17, 2013 |date=October 21, 2013 |archive-date=November 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124062440/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/10/21/wikipedia-probes-suspicious-promotional-articles/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead, as was reported by the '']'', Wiki-PR had been involved in "meatpuppetry"—a practice in which editors illegitimately encourage other individuals to edit in support of their position—in addition to planting articles online to try to garner better potential notability for its clients.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/wikipedia-paid-edits-companies-pay-top-dollar-firms-willing-fix-their-entries-1449172 |title=Misplaced Pages and Paid Edits: Companies Pay Top Dollar to Firms Willing to 'Fix' Their Entries |first=Thomas |last=Halleck |date=November 8, 2013 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-date=January 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131123131/https://www.ibtimes.com/wikipedia-paid-edits-companies-pay-top-dollar-firms-willing-fix-their-entries-1449172 |url-status=live }}</ref>
As of October 25, 2013, Wiki-PR, including all of its employees, contractors, and owners, were banned from Misplaced Pages. ], executive director of the ], stated that the Foundation was "exploring our options".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wikipedia-we-have-blocked-250-sock-puppets-for-biased-editing-of-our-pages-8895112.html|title=Misplaced Pages: We have blocked 250 'sock puppets' for biased editing of our pages|last=Burrell|first=Ian|work=]|date=2013-10-21|accessdate=2013-11-19}}</ref> On November 19, 2013, Wikimedia's law firm, ], e-mailed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/6/6b/2013-11-19_C%26D_letter_to_WikiPR_from_Cooley.pdf |title=C&D letter to WikiPR from Cooley |quote=Via Email }}</ref> a ] letter to Wiki-PR.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/11/19/wikimedia-steps-up-sockpuppet-fight/|title=Wikimedia Steps Up "Sockpuppet" Fight|last=Fowler|first=Geoffrey|work=]|date=2013-11-19|accessdate=2013-11-19}}</ref> French told '']'' that Wiki-PR "is working with the Wikimedia Foundation and its counsel to sort this out," and hoped to have further information in a week's time.<ref name="The Guardian-21-Nov-13">{{cite news|last=Arthur|first=Charles|title=Misplaced Pages sends cease-and-desist letter to PR firm offering paid edits to site|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/21/wikipedia-cease-and-desist-pr-firm-offering-paid-edits|accessdate=22 November 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 November 2013}}</ref>


⚫ == Misplaced Pages and Wikimedia's reaction ==
⚫ == Notes ==

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=upper-alpha|colwidth=40em}}
{{As of|2013|10|25|df=us}}, Wiki-PR, including all of its employees, contractors, and owners, were banned from editing Misplaced Pages. ], executive director of the ], stated that the Foundation was "exploring our options".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wikipedia-we-have-blocked-250-sock-puppets-for-biased-editing-of-our-pages-8895112.html|title=Misplaced Pages: We have blocked 250 'sock puppets' for biased editing of our pages|last=Burrell|first=Ian|work=]|date=October 21, 2013|access-date=2013-11-19|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921023825/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wikipedia-we-have-blocked-250-sock-puppets-for-biased-editing-of-our-pages-8895112.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 19, 2013, Wikimedia's law firm, ], emailed a ] letter to Wiki-PR.{{efn|The cease-and-desist letter, titled "C&D letter to WikiPR from Cooley", is .}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/11/19/wikimedia-steps-up-sockpuppet-fight/|title=Wikimedia Steps Up "Sockpuppet" Fight|last=Fowler|first=Geoffrey|work=]|date=November 19, 2013|access-date=2013-11-19|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107033428/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/11/19/wikimedia-steps-up-sockpuppet-fight/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=notwikipr>{{cite web | url=https://www.ibtimes.com/wikipedia-sends-paid-editors-cease-desist-sockpuppet-account-morning277-not-wiki-pr-1482738 | title=Misplaced Pages Sends Paid Editors Cease-And-Desist: Sockpuppet Account Morning277, Not Wiki-PR | work=] | date=November 22, 2013 | access-date=2014-01-27 | last=Halleck | first=Thomas | archive-date=April 22, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422222634/https://www.ibtimes.com/wikipedia-sends-paid-editors-cease-desist-sockpuppet-account-morning277-not-wiki-pr-1482738 | url-status=live }}</ref> French told '']'' that Wiki-PR "is working with the Wikimedia Foundation and its counsel to sort this out", and hoped to have further information in a week's time.<ref name="The Guardian-21-Nov-13">{{cite news|last=Arthur|first=Charles|title=Misplaced Pages sends cease-and-desist letter to PR firm offering paid edits to site|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/21/wikipedia-cease-and-desist-pr-firm-offering-paid-edits|access-date=2013-11-22|newspaper=The Guardian|date=November 21, 2013|archive-date=September 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910184634/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/21/wikipedia-cease-and-desist-pr-firm-offering-paid-edits|url-status=live}}</ref> The Wikimedia Foundation acknowledged communicating with Wiki-PR, but the Foundation rejected any implication that they were negotiating with Wiki-PR, saying that if Wiki-PR wanted to continue editing, Wiki-PR must turn to Misplaced Pages's community.<ref name=independent>{{cite news|last=Burrell|first=Ian|title=Misplaced Pages names Texas PR firm over false manipulation of site entries|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/wikipedia-names-texas-pr-firm-over-false-manipulation-of-site-entries-8952624.html|access-date=2014-02-08|newspaper=The Independent|date=November 20, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011133/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/wikipedia-names-texas-pr-firm-over-false-manipulation-of-site-entries-8952624.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Cnote2|note 1|The sockpuppet investigation concluded that, among other accounts, an account named ] was operated by a Wiki-PR employee.<ref name=Owens/> The account was prominently named in many media reports.<ref name=notwikipr /> However, the ] reported that the operator of the Morning277 account was not a Wiki-PR employee as had previously been reported, but rather was Mike Wood, the proprietor of LegalMorning.com, who said in an interview that "I am not Wiki-PR nor do I have a relation with them."<ref name=notwikipr>{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.com/wikipedia-sends-paid-editors-cease-desist-sockpuppet-account-morning277-not-wiki-pr-1482738 | title=Misplaced Pages Sends Paid Editors Cease-And-Desist: Sockpuppet Account Morning277, Not Wiki-PR | work=] | date=22 November 2013 | accessdate=27 January 2014 | author=Halleck, Thomas}}</ref>}}

{{Cnote2 End}}
In June 2014, the Wikimedia Foundation updated its terms of use, forbidding undisclosed paid editing and requiring any paid editors to disclose their affiliation.<ref name=wsj2014 /><ref name=WMFblog /> The blog post announcing the change stated that "Undisclosed paid advocacy editing is a ] that can threaten the trust of Wikimedia's volunteers and readers. We have serious concerns about the way that such editing affects the neutrality and ]."<ref name=wsj2014>{{cite news|last=Elder|first=Jeff|title=Misplaced Pages Strengthens Rules Against Undisclosed Editing|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/06/16/wikipedia-strengthens-rules-against-undisclosed-editing/|access-date=2015-12-04|newspaper=]|date=June 16, 2014|archive-date=June 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618200711/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/06/16/wikipedia-strengthens-rules-against-undisclosed-editing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WMFblog>{{cite news|last=Brigham|first=Geoff|title=Making a change to our Terms of Use: Requirements for disclosure|url=https://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/06/16/change-terms-of-use-requirements-for-disclosure/|access-date=2015-09-14|publisher=Wikimedia Foundation|date=June 14, 2014|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910025355/http://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/06/16/change-terms-of-use-requirements-for-disclosure/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in 2014, a number of large PR firms pledged to follow Misplaced Pages's new and existing guidelines.<ref name=techdirt>{{cite news|title=Group Of Major PR Firms Pledge To Play Nice On Misplaced Pages|url=https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140611/12092827548/group-major-pr-firms-pledge-to-play-nice-wikipedia.shtml|last1=Geigner|first1=Timothy|access-date=2014-08-16|newspaper=Tech Dirt|date=June 14, 2013|archive-date=August 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085508/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140611/12092827548/group-major-pr-firms-pledge-to-play-nice-wikipedia.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

⚫ ==Notes==
{{notelist}}


== References == == References ==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|30em}}


== External links == == External links ==
*{{Official website|https://www.wiki-pr.com/}} *{{Official website|https://www.wiki-pr.com/}}
*"]," ''The Signpost'', 9 October 2013. *"]", ''The Signpost'', October 9, 2013.
* October 19, 2013 ]
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026151816/https://motherboard.vice.com/blog/is-wikipedia-for-sale |date=October 26, 2013 }} October 19, 2013 ] Motherboard

{{COI on Misplaced Pages}}


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Latest revision as of 15:41, 3 November 2024

Consulting firm that commercially edited Misplaced Pages

Wiki-PR
Company typeConsulting firm
IndustryPublic relations, Consulting
Founded2010
Founder
  • Jordan French
  • Darius Fisher
HeadquartersAustin, Texas, United States
Key people
  • Jordan French (CEO)
  • Darius Fisher (COO)
Websitewiki-pr.com (archived)

Wiki-PR was a consulting firm that marketed the ability to edit Misplaced Pages by "directly edit your page using our network of established Misplaced Pages editors and admins".

It received media attention in 2013 after a sockpuppet investigation resulted in more than 250 Misplaced Pages user accounts being blocked or banned. The Wikimedia Foundation changed its terms of use in the wake of the investigation, requiring anyone paid to edit Misplaced Pages to openly disclose their affiliations. Despite the ban, Status Labs, a firm started in 2012 by Wiki-PR founders Fisher and French, continued to edit clients' Misplaced Pages articles according to former employees. Wiki-PR has been inactive since 2013.

Company

Wiki-PR was created in 2010 by Darius Fisher, its chief operating officer as of 2014, and Jordan French, its chief executive officer as of 2014. Confirmed clients include Priceline and Emad Rahim, and suspected clients include Viacom, among many others. The firm claimed to have Misplaced Pages administrator access enabling it to manage the Misplaced Pages presence of more than 12,000 clients. Wiki-PR has been reported to use "aggressive email marketing" to acquire new customers.

Investigation and company reaction

An investigation of sockpuppet accounts on Misplaced Pages that began in 2012 implicated hundreds of accounts. Wiki-PR's involvement was confirmed after four customers of Wiki-PR spoke anonymously to The Daily Dot journalist Simon Owens, and two others, Priceline.com and Emad Rahim, spoke to Vice journalist Martin Robbins. In addition to violating rules against sockpuppeting, Wiki-PR violated Misplaced Pages rules by citing articles that were planted on business content farms and various other websites that accept contributions from any Internet user as sources for Misplaced Pages entries, creating a false impression of credibility. The same websites were used repeatedly, and their presence in various Misplaced Pages articles aided investigators in identifying articles the company had worked on.

The investigation led to the Misplaced Pages community blocking hundreds of paid Misplaced Pages editing accounts believed to be connected to Wiki-PR that had edited contrary to Misplaced Pages's rules.

In 2014 The New York Times described Wiki-PR's methods:

uses a lot of people, with different identities, to edit pages for paying customers and to manage those pages. The paid sock puppets are ready to pounce on edits that don't adhere to the client's vision.

In The Wall Street Journal, French was quoted as saying that Wiki-PR is a research and writing firm, counseling clients on "how to adhere to Misplaced Pages's rules". French said that its paid work is part of the "fabric" of Misplaced Pages, complementing the work of unpaid volunteers. French acknowledged that Wiki-PR had sometimes made "bad calls" on the notability of articles. He also said that "We do pay hundreds of other editors for their work—they're real people and not sockpuppets." Instead, as was reported by the International Business Times, Wiki-PR had been involved in "meatpuppetry"—a practice in which editors illegitimately encourage other individuals to edit in support of their position—in addition to planting articles online to try to garner better potential notability for its clients.

Misplaced Pages and Wikimedia's reaction

As of October 25, 2013, Wiki-PR, including all of its employees, contractors, and owners, were banned from editing Misplaced Pages. Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, stated that the Foundation was "exploring our options". On November 19, 2013, Wikimedia's law firm, Cooley LLP, emailed a cease-and-desist letter to Wiki-PR. French told The Guardian that Wiki-PR "is working with the Wikimedia Foundation and its counsel to sort this out", and hoped to have further information in a week's time. The Wikimedia Foundation acknowledged communicating with Wiki-PR, but the Foundation rejected any implication that they were negotiating with Wiki-PR, saying that if Wiki-PR wanted to continue editing, Wiki-PR must turn to Misplaced Pages's community.

In June 2014, the Wikimedia Foundation updated its terms of use, forbidding undisclosed paid editing and requiring any paid editors to disclose their affiliation. The blog post announcing the change stated that "Undisclosed paid advocacy editing is a black hat practice that can threaten the trust of Wikimedia's volunteers and readers. We have serious concerns about the way that such editing affects the neutrality and reliability of Misplaced Pages." Later in 2014, a number of large PR firms pledged to follow Misplaced Pages's new and existing guidelines.

Notes

  1. The cease-and-desist letter, titled "C&D letter to WikiPR from Cooley", is here.

References

  1. "Wiki-PR: Misplaced Pages Writers For Hire". Wiki-PR.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  2. "Misplaced Pages probe into paid-for 'sockpuppet' entries". BBC News. October 21, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  3. ^ "Leadership". Wiki-PR website. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  4. Robbins, Martin (October 18, 2013). "Is the PR Industry Buying Influence Over Misplaced Pages?". Vice. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  5. Mullin, Joe (October 22, 2013). "Misplaced Pages editors, locked in battle with PR firm, delete 250 accounts". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Elder, Jeff (June 16, 2014). "Misplaced Pages Strengthens Rules Against Undisclosed Editing". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  7. ^ Brigham, Geoff (June 14, 2014). "Making a change to our Terms of Use: Requirements for disclosure". Wikimedia Foundation. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  8. Levy, Rachael (December 13, 2019). "How the 1% Scrubs Its Image Online". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  9. Neither the Wiki-PR website nor its social media pages have been updated since 2013, and there are no signs of the organisation having been active since.
  10. ^ Robbins, Martin (October 20, 2013). "Is Misplaced Pages for Sale?". motherboard.vice.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013. We'll both directly edit your page using our network of established Misplaced Pages editors and admins
  11. "Wiki-PR". Wiki-PR. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013. archived November 14, 2013
  12. ^ Owens, Simon (October 8, 2013). "The battle to destroy Misplaced Pages's biggest sockpuppet army". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  13. ^ Robbins, Martin (October 19, 2013). "Is the PR Industry Buying Influence Over Misplaced Pages?". Vice. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  14. Stampler, Laura (October 21, 2013). "Misplaced Pages Bans 250 Users for Posting Paid, Promotional Entries". Time. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  15. Newman, Judith (January 8, 2014). "Misplaced Pages-Mania: Misplaced Pages, What Does Judith Newman Have to Do to Get a Page?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  16. Fowler, Geoffrey (October 21, 2013). "Misplaced Pages Probes Suspicious Promotional Articles". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  17. Halleck, Thomas (November 8, 2013). "Misplaced Pages and Paid Edits: Companies Pay Top Dollar to Firms Willing to 'Fix' Their Entries". Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  18. Burrell, Ian (October 21, 2013). "Misplaced Pages: We have blocked 250 'sock puppets' for biased editing of our pages". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  19. Fowler, Geoffrey (November 19, 2013). "Wikimedia Steps Up "Sockpuppet" Fight". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  20. Halleck, Thomas (November 22, 2013). "Misplaced Pages Sends Paid Editors Cease-And-Desist: Sockpuppet Account Morning277, Not Wiki-PR". International Business Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  21. Arthur, Charles (November 21, 2013). "Misplaced Pages sends cease-and-desist letter to PR firm offering paid edits to site". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  22. Burrell, Ian (November 20, 2013). "Misplaced Pages names Texas PR firm over false manipulation of site entries". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  23. Geigner, Timothy (June 14, 2013). "Group Of Major PR Firms Pledge To Play Nice On Misplaced Pages". Tech Dirt. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.

External links

Conflict-of-interest editing on Misplaced Pages
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