Changes

===Accountability===

===Accountability===

Wikipedia relies upon volunteer administrators to maintain the accountability of the website and enforce its rules.  The number of administrators continues to shrink.  In January 2008, there were 1,011 administrators, but the number dropped to 661 in November 2012, and as of June 2016, the number stands at 539.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_administrators/stat_table|title=Wikipedia:List of administrators/stat table|accessdate=July 27, 2016}}</ref> The number drops because the process of selecting new administrators subjects each candidate to extensive abuse.  If the action of Wikipedia administrators appears very odd, there is a possibility that it is because the actions are the product of anonymous, very young people or, in certain cases, of mentally ill people.  For example, sysop Altenmann was desysopped and community-banned in April 2010 for sockpuppeting and improper closure of deletion discussions over a period of several years.  He admitted mental illness and has been unbanned.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:Arbitration_Committee/Noticeboard&oldid=491693521</ref>

Wikipedia relies upon volunteer administrators to maintain the accountability of the website and enforce its rules.  The number of administrators continues to shrink.  In January 2008, there were 1,011 administrators, but the number dropped to 661 in November 2012, and as of June 2016, the number stands at 539.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_administrators/stat_table|title=Wikipedia:List of administrators/stat table|accessdate=July 27, 2016}}</ref> The number drops because the process of selecting new administrators subjects each candidate to extensive abuse.  If the action of Wikipedia administrators appear very odd, perhaps it is because the actions are the product of anonymous, very young people or, in some cases, of mentally ill people.  For example, sysop Altenmann was desysopped and community-banned in April 2010 for sockpuppeting and improper closure of deletion discussions over a period of several years.  He admitted mental illness and has been unbanned.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:Arbitration_Committee/Noticeboard&oldid=491693521</ref> A user called El C with the power to lock edits and permanently block accounts, has pictures and quotes of Lenin and Che Guevara. He has abused his power to delete any edit deemed offensive to his Communist political agenda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:El_C&oldid=776222212}}</ref> Another user called Grayfell, was accused of abusing his power for also deleting and blocking any user who disagreed with his views. He has also been confirmed to be a sockpuppet, as he made other accounts which agreed with his edits, and attacked those who did not. Those fraudulent accounts are Eden5, Nasty, and I am One of Many.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Grayfell&oldid=776137990#Do_not_abuse_your_power.}}</ref> A user who is from Serbia called Vanjagenije, is inappropriately editing pages that are related to the United States, even though he has never lived in America. He has been biased, usually removing any edit that would be considered "pro-American".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Vanjagenije&oldid=771253570}}</ref> Another user named Doug Weller and his brother C.Fred both Canadian, have been going to any anti-trump pages and prohibiting anyone from editing anything pro-trump. They both have admin privileges. User Bakilas and User Doug Weller have removed edit summaries, so that people cannot see the history of edits. They both have removed verified information that did not agree with their far-left political beliefs.

Fundamentally, the owner of a website is accountable for its governance and contents.  To qualify for a tax exemption, Wikipedia is owned by the [[Wikimedia Foundation]] (WMF) that has a Board of Directors and a paid professional staff of 146.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/FAQ/en|title=Frequently asked questions|accessdate=February 7, 2013}}</ref>  However, the WMF, its Board, and Staff disavow any accountability for the Wikipedia encyclopedia.  Instead, co-founder Jimmy Wales claims ultimate authority for it and acts as the executive/monarch on whatever he chooses.  For example, although the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee is selected in an election, Wales accepts the election results and appoints the new members.  As recently as September 2013, Wales claims to have the right to overturn Arbitration Committee decisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Jimbo_Wales&diff=571759721&oldid=571756060If|title=User Talk:Jimbo Wales|date=September 6, 2013}}</ref> If a person has a complaint about being the victim of false libel by Wikipedia, the WMF disavows any control of the matter and hides behind Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. So, the WMF has a legal incentive to maintain a "hands-off" approach to content disputes. Its Board and Staff collect the charitable donations and meet IRS requirements, but Wales and the volunteer editors maintain the biased, defamatory site.

Fundamentally, the owner of a website is accountable for its governance and contents.  To qualify for a tax exemption, Wikipedia is owned by the [[Wikimedia Foundation]] (WMF) that has a Board of Directors and a paid professional staff of 146.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/FAQ/en|title=Frequently asked questions|accessdate=February 7, 2013}}</ref>  However, the WMF, its Board and Staff disavow any accountability for the Wikipedia encyclopedia.  Instead, co-founder Jimmy Wales claims ultimate authority for it, and acts as the executive/monarch on whatever he chooses.  For example, although the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee is selected in an election, Wales accepts the election results and appoints the new members.  As recently as September 2013, Wales claims to have the right to overturn Arbitration Committee decisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Jimbo_Wales&diff=571759721&oldid=571756060If|title=User Talk:Jimbo Wales|date=September 6, 2013}}</ref> If a person has a complaint about being falsely libled by Wikipedia, the WMF disavows any control of the matter and hides behind Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. So, the WMF has a legal incentive to maintain a "hands off" approach to content disputes. Its Board and Staff collect the charitable donations and meet IRS requirements, but Wales and the volunteer editors maintain the biased, defamatory site.

There have been lawsuits against Wikipedia and its editors.  For example, Theodore Katsanevas, a Greek politician sued a Wikipedia editor and the WMF to seek removal of allegedly defamatory materials from the Greek Wikipedia.  A Greek Court granted a preliminary injunction requiring the removal of material, but other editors have added it back in and have translated the biography with the offending material into 20 other languages.  A full trial is expected in 2016, and the WMF has promised to pay all of the defendants' legal fees.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/02/14/wikimedia-foundation-supports-wikipedia-user-subject-to-defamation-lawsuit-in-greece/|title=Wikimedia Foundation supports Wikipedia user subject to defamation lawsuit in Greece|work=Wikimedia Blog|date=February 14, 2014|accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref>

There have been lawsuits against Wikipedia and its editors.  For example, Theodore Katsanevas, a Greek politician sued a Wikipedia editor and the WMF to seek removal of allegedly defamatory materials from the Greek Wikipedia.  A Greek Court granted a preliminary injunction requiring the removal of material, but other editors have added it back in and have translated the biography with the offending material into 20 other languages.  A full trial is expected in 2016, and the WMF has promised to pay all of the defendants' legal fees.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/02/14/wikimedia-foundation-supports-wikipedia-user-subject-to-defamation-lawsuit-in-greece/|title=Wikimedia Foundation supports Wikipedia user subject to defamation lawsuit in Greece|work=Wikimedia Blog|date=February 14, 2014|accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref>