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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia volunteer faces reprimand over ‘Shapps account’ investigation | Wikipedia volunteer faces reprimand over ‘Shapps account’ investigation |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Wikipedia’s “high court” looks likely to reprimand one of its senior administrators over the way he investigated claims that the former Conservative party co-chairman Grant Shapps used an account to edit his own page and those of rival Tories. | Wikipedia’s “high court” looks likely to reprimand one of its senior administrators over the way he investigated claims that the former Conservative party co-chairman Grant Shapps used an account to edit his own page and those of rival Tories. |
| The site’s arbitration committee – a group of volunteers chosen by the community to adjudicate on controversial decisions – looks certain to strip Richard Symonds of the right to unearth the IP addresses of Wikipedia users and also the ability to hide certain key edits. | The site’s arbitration committee – a group of volunteers chosen by the community to adjudicate on controversial decisions – looks certain to strip Richard Symonds of the right to unearth the IP addresses of Wikipedia users and also the ability to hide certain key edits. |
| The 15-person committee is likely to reach its decision in the next 24 hours. | |
| In April, after the Guardian approached a number of administrators with details of edits made over several years, Symonds blocked the account of a user named Contribsx because of suspicions that it had been used by Shapps or “someone under his direction”. | In April, after the Guardian approached a number of administrators with details of edits made over several years, Symonds blocked the account of a user named Contribsx because of suspicions that it had been used by Shapps or “someone under his direction”. |
| The committee has criticised Symonds for the way he used his access to the site’s CheckUser tool, which can uncover the IP addresses of devices used to make edits. It said it “does not believe that there was a significant violation of policy through this action but that it creates an appearance of favouritism” towards the Guardian. | The committee has criticised Symonds for the way he used his access to the site’s CheckUser tool, which can uncover the IP addresses of devices used to make edits. It said it “does not believe that there was a significant violation of policy through this action but that it creates an appearance of favouritism” towards the Guardian. |
| It looks unlikely that Symonds will be “desysoped” and lose all rights as an administrator on Wikipedia. Neither does the arbitration committee propose at present to reverse Symonds’ decision to block Contribsx. | It looks unlikely that Symonds will be “desysoped” and lose all rights as an administrator on Wikipedia. Neither does the arbitration committee propose at present to reverse Symonds’ decision to block Contribsx. |
| The disclosure during the general election campaign that Shapps was suspected of engaging in “sock puppetry” – creating a fake online identity for improper purposes – proved highly embarrassing to the Tories. David Cameron faced questions about the story on the campaign trail. | The disclosure during the general election campaign that Shapps was suspected of engaging in “sock puppetry” – creating a fake online identity for improper purposes – proved highly embarrassing to the Tories. David Cameron faced questions about the story on the campaign trail. |
| Shapps denied the allegations. After the election he was removed from the post of party co-chairman and made a minister at the Department for International Development, a move widely seen as a demotion. | Shapps denied the allegations. After the election he was removed from the post of party co-chairman and made a minister at the Department for International Development, a move widely seen as a demotion. |
| Symonds, whom the Tories tried to paint as part of a political conspiracy owing to his previous membership of the Lib Dems, said it would be be premature to comment on the outcome of the internal investigation before the committee votes. | Symonds, whom the Tories tried to paint as part of a political conspiracy owing to his previous membership of the Lib Dems, said it would be be premature to comment on the outcome of the internal investigation before the committee votes. |
| He added: “That said, my heart is warmed at the upwelling of support, both private and public, that I have had from the flurry of experienced Wikipedians who believe that I did the right thing.” | He added: “That said, my heart is warmed at the upwelling of support, both private and public, that I have had from the flurry of experienced Wikipedians who believe that I did the right thing.” |