Wikipedia has joined the ranks of online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google to take steps to prevent disinformation on Election Day.
"When we talk about disinformation, what we mean is coordinated attempts to misinform the public, to get people to think about something that is incorrect or to get people to do something based on false information," Ryan Merkley, chief of staff at the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit behind the online encyclopedia, told Cheddar. "When we talk about misinformation, what we mostly mean is when those attempts are successful and well-meaning folks who actually believe that information spread it even further."
In order to combat both mis- and disinformation, the nonprofit has assembled a special task force of technical, legal, and communication staff to provide support to the thousands of unpaid volunteers who the site relies on to write and edit entries.
"The number one defense against disinformation is volunteers showing up every day editing those articles, over 50 million articles worldwide, 300-plus languages," Merkley said. "Every day volunteers root out bad information and make sure that what's there is reliably sourced and available to everybody."
Merkley stressed that this is nothing new for Wikipedia. After two decades of building its capacity for transparency and accountability, he's confident the site can weather the 2020 election.
That doesn't mean the nonprofit isn't pulling out the stops for this highly-anticipated and contentious presidential election. One precaution, for instance, includes limiting edits of the 2020 U.S. election page to volunteer accounts older than 30 days and that have at least 500 edits to their name
Merkley explained that Wikimedia feels a special responsibility to ensure accuracy, given how much of the internet is integrated with its vast information database.
"If you ask Alexa a question, it's often answering with information pulled straight from Wikipedia, or if you do a Google search, in the sidebar where you see other information, a lot of that is pulled straight from Wikipedia," he said. "So if it's wrong on our platform, it could be wrong everywhere, and we care very deeply about getting that right."
As for the possibility of disinformation coming from the highest levels of power, Merkley said it makes no difference to Wikipedia's approach.
"Mis- and disinformation can come from anywhere," he said. "The important thing is whether or not that source is verifiable, whether the facts are reliable facts. It's less about where it comes from and more about what is the impact that is intended from that information."
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts, in sharp contrast with other Fed officials who have called for a more urgent approach. In remarks in Providence, Rhode Island, Powell noted that there are risks to both of the Fed’s goals of seeking maximum employment and stable prices. His approach is in sharp contrast to some members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee who are pushing for faster cuts.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the American media landscape have led to the suspension of late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield is leaving the ice cream brand after 47 years. He says the freedom the company used to have to speak up on social issues has been stifled
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. The only dissenter was Stephen Miran, the recent Trump-appointee.
After a late-night vote and last-minute ruling, the Federal Reserve began a key meeting on interest rate policy Tuesday with both a new Trump administration appointee and an official the White House has targeted for removal.
The Trump administration has issued its first warnings to online services that offer unofficial versions of popular drugs like the blockbuster obesity treatment Wegovy.
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama says his new Cabinet will include an artificial intelligence “minister” in charge of fighting corruption. The AI, named Diella, will oversee public funding projects and combat corruption in public tenders. Diella was launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the government's public service platform. Corruption has been a persistent issue in Albania since 1990. Rama's Socialist Party won a fourth consecutive term in May. It aims to deliver EU membership for Albania in five years, but the opposition Democratic Party remains skeptical.
The Trump administration has asked an appeals court to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s board of governors by Monday, before the central bank’s next vote on interest rates. Trump sought to fire Cook Aug. 25, but a federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the removal was illegal and reinstated her to the Fed’s board.
President Donald Trump's administration is appealing a ruling blocking him from immediately firing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook as he seeks more control over the traditionally independent board. The notice of appeal was filed Wednesday, hours after U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb handed down the ruling. The White House insists the Republican president had the right to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations involving properties in Michigan and Georgia from before she joined the Fed. Cook's lawsuit denies the allegations and says the firing was unlawful. The case could soon reach the Supreme Court, which has allowed Trump to fire members of other independent agencies but suggested that power has limitations at the Fed.
Chief Justice John Roberts has let President Donald Trump remove a member of the Federal Trade Commission, the latest in a string of high-profile firings allowed for now by the Supreme Court.
