[WikiEN-l] The liability argument (was: Getting hammered ...)

[Jake Nelson]

On 3/30/07, Seth Finkelstein <sethf at sethf.com> wrote:
>        The wild card in the legal theorizing is whether Wikipedia's
> effect might finally be enough to get the law *changed* by Congress, to
> clarify that liability. It won't happen from the trashing of some
> activists, or even minor celebrities. But if someone with enough
> political influence decides to pursue the matter, I do think there
> would be a base of support. There's certainly enough of a "parade of
> horribles" to fuel an issue.

I should be careful not to say too much, but I feel it's important to
emphasize this. Wikipedia has friends and enemies in Washington.

For example, some here will remember Senator [[Norm Coleman]] and
then-Congressman [[Gil Gutknecht]]'s staffers messing with their
Wikipedia entries- what you might not know is that in Gutknecht's
case, this was a significant campaign issue, analyzed in the local
media, mentioned in a few campaign speeches, etc. Gutknecht's
opponents[1] used it as example of dishonesty, some of his supporters
wrote us off with descriptions like "a bunch of left-wing nuts making
stuff up on the Internet"[2] and said things like '"We're concerned
when anyone looks to Wikipedia for factual information," said
Gutknecht spokesman Jon Yarian. "This is the same source that called
former Assistant Attorney General John Seigenthaler a murderer in his
official Wikipedia entry ... I would encourage people to find a more
trustworthy place to do their research."'[3]. Further, Gutknecht's
opponent (and later successor), Congressman [[Tim Walz]], is more
knowledgeable about Wikipedia than some admins, is a definite fan, and
has spoken in praise of it on multiple occasions, in campaign
speeches[4] and in conversation[5].

(Coleman's stunt hit the media here too, and expect it to come up when
he runs for re-election next year.)

The increasing use of MediaWiki by political groups is going to be a
factor in the future, as well (see the very different in content as
well as politics dKosopedia and Conservapedia as early examples).

We're yet again in the realm of changing what we observe, and being
changed by it in turn. Awareness of attitudes about us in Congress is
going to be very important in the near future.

-- Jake Nelson
[[en:User:Jake Nelson]]

[1] - In the interest of disclosure, I note: myself included.
[2] - Quote is from someone whom I believe to be a local unit officer
of the MN Republican Party (whose name I don't know) who described
Wikipedia as this while in the same room as me.
[3] - See Star Tribune/AP article "Gutknecht joins Wikipedia tweakers".
[4] - At least once that I know of firsthand, at the Minnesota State
Fair, and I believe other times as well.
[5] - In conversation with me, anyway. Can't say I know how much he
talks about it with other people.