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Wikipedia: Conflict of interests

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Axel Downard-Wilke

User:Schwede66

@AxelWilkeNZ

@wikiprojectnz

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https://bit.ly/Wiki-COI

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ORCID: 0000-0002-6775-8903

Neil Macbeth: CC-BY-SA-4.0

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We will discuss

Backstory

What is conflict of interest (COI) for Wikipedia?

What happens when you break the rules?

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How do you manage COI?

User page examples

Conclusions

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The backstory

DYK hooks published Fri, 24 May 2024

Hooks are swapped every 24 hours

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The lead (picture) hook got pulled after 9 hours over conflict of interest concerns

There’s now an investigation going on at the COI Noticeboard

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What is COI for Wikipedia?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest

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What happens when you break the rules? 1

You might get dragged to the COI noticeboard where you have to explain �yourself

Repeat offenders get �blocked

Articles get tagged

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What happens when you break the rules? 2

2016/17 RfA: I had to explain COI editing years earlier �

Link

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How to manage COI? 1

Step 1: become aware of your COIs (financial = shareholding)

Step 2: document the COIs on your user page

Step 3: never edit those pages (e.g. do not watchlist)

  • minor edits (as defined at Help:Minor edit) are OK
  • reverting vandalism is OK

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Minor_edit

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How to manage COI? 2

Editor has COI

  • Request that edits be done via the subject’s talk page
  • {{edit COI}}

Responding to COI

  • If you fulfil a COI edit request, say so in the edit summary

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Edit_COI

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Example

  • I have a declared COI
  • Researched why she holds an honorary degree from French uni
  • Sent source to science Wiki editor requesting content to be added
  • Should have posted the source on the talk page instead

Royal Society Te Apārangi: CC-BY-4.0

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User page �examples 1

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Axel �Downard-Wilke

Schwede66

Add shareholding COIs

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User page �examples 2

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Victoria �Leachman

Einebillion

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User page �examples 3

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Siobhan �Leachman

Ambrosia10

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Conclusions

  • Be aware of conflicts of interest
  • Be transparent and declare any COIs
  • Do not engage in COI editing
  • Make COI edit requests via talk pages
  • If you’ve been asked to make edits on behalf of a COI editor, say so in your edit summary

Presentation is CC-BY-SA-4.0; photos licensed as shown