03.09.07
Wikipedia considering requiring proof of credentials
It seems like Wikipedia may finally be getting sick of all the spamming and false information being posted on their highly popular online encyclopedia. According to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, a new policy is under consideration that may require contributors to confirm credentials before adding to the site. This comes on the heels of the recent EssJay scandal.
The user, who went under the pseudonym “essjay,” described himself in an online profile as a “tenured professor of theology” and said he taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in the subject. He also said he held a bachelor of arts in religious studies, a master of arts in religion, doctorate in philosophy in theology and a doctorate in canon law. But it wasn’t true. Essjay was actually Ryan Jordan, a 24 year-old from Kentucky, who revealed his true identity when he joined Wikia Inc., the for-profit company run by Wales that seeks to use the community content model to make money.
An interesting move by the company to say the least, but at the end of the day, even a beginner web user could find the proof they need to pass these tests, is this added layer going to help anything?
