The war of words rages on Wikipedia, between pro-government and anti-Chinese government. A BBC investigation, for BBC Click show, allowed to unveil its magnitude. So much so that the management of Wikipedia ended up banning 19 publishers in less than a month. What is going on behind the pages of the most used encyclopedia on the Internet?
123 versions in two days
Wikipedia was created in 2001. At the beginning of November, the site had accumulated 268 billion page views for the year 2021 alone, of which 300 million pages were modified by users “publishers”. While it may seem normal to correct erroneous or missing information, some do not hesitate to take advantage of this freedom for propaganda. Especially concerning the history of China.
If in 2019 pro-democracy Protestants marched in the streets of Hong Kong, the Chinese repression pushed them to social networks. And some pages relating to anti-government protests are undergoing permanent changes. Thus, the page on the Yuen Long attack in 2019 saw no less than 123 versions in … two days in August 2020.
During a protest in Hong Kong, around 100 men in white shirts attacked protesters at a subway station. A photo showing these “white shirts” marching with the police has been removed several times and then returned. Terms like “terrorist attack” have replaced “conflict”.
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“The pro-Beijing are removing any information favorable to the demonstrators, such as tear gas jets or images of barricades. They add their content instead, explains a Chinese editor under the nickname John. Of course, this war of words is played in both directions. Some pro-democracy add elements too. But the pro-Beijing are much more aggressive in disinformation. “
Of course, government-validated Chinese sites have long changed parts of history. Like the removal from Bing of the iconic photo of this protester standing in front of tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Intimidation and blackmail
Not all publishers are located in Hong Kong. Many live abroad, and some are even in China (they go through a VPN, which allows computer servers to believe that they are in another country). Evidence also points to attempts at intimidation and blackmail. The pro-Beijing threaten to denounce the other publishers and their relatives to the authorities. With the consequences that we know: prison, even complete disappearance.
Another method: the pack. When information is modified by a pro-democracy, the pro-Beijing unite and report in large numbers to the publisher. Dozens of votes to one.
“An attempt to rewrite history”
This led Wikipedia to a rarely seen decision: to ban a significant number of publishers, and even administrators. However, many Internet users are worried about this. How to ensure a balance of points of view if a game is banned? “It is the balance effect, described Enming Yan, former administrator on Wikipedia China and banned. If we remove all avenues in favor of the Chinese government, the balance inevitably tilts in the opposite side.” Enming Yan is currently working on some sort of online encyclopedia, but run by Beijing.
An opinion refuted by the creator of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales. “I have spoken with so many people around the world. And the idea that the Chinese are so enmeshed that they are unable to recognize neutrality is aberrant. We welcome Chinese publishers with open arms. The only reason preventing them to give their point of view is the Chinese government, forbidding them to edit Wikipedia pages relating to them. “
“It is no longer manageable without outside intervention, tempers John. There is an attempt to rewrite history.” If Jimmy Wales has proven he can be that referee, he’s only done it once. Which generated a forced ceasefire. But these “edit wars” quickly resumed. A conflict without a name, but which does indeed claim victims on both sides.
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