Wikipedia query on teal MP Zoe Daniel
Online encylopaedia adds note to Teal MP’s Wikipedia page, warning that it may have been created or edited ‘in return for undisclosed payments’.
The Wikipedia page of teal independent MP Zoe Daniel has been flagged as potentially being created or edited “in return for undisclosed payments”.
The online encyclopaedia has added a note to Ms Daniel’s page warning readers that it may violate policies requiring content to represent views fairly, proportionately and without bias.
“This article may have been created or edited in return for undisclosed payments, a violation of Wikipedia’s terms of use,” said the note.
“It may require clean-up to comply with Wikipedia’s content policies, particularly neutral point of view.”
The note was added after The Australian reported the Victorian division of the federal Liberal Party had written to the Australian Electoral Commission about an account called Playlet, which created Ms Daniel’s Wikipedia page.
It was operated by Melbourne rabbi Yaron Gottlieb, who was involved in Ms Daniel’s campaign but has been suspended for the “misuse of multiple Wikipedia accounts”, a practice known as sock puppetry.
Mr Gottlieb said he had never been employed by Ms Daniel nor her campaign and had never made Wikipedia edits for money.
“I have never edited any Wikipedia pages for payment, whether disclosed or not,” he said.
“Suggestions that I have engaged in any nefarious conduct, such as editing Wikipedia for undisclosed payments or to propagate disinformation, are false and defamatory.”
The Australian is not suggesting anyone, Mr Gottlieb or otherwise, made edits to Ms Daniel’s Wikipedia page for money and is reporting only that a note was added.
Mr Gottlieb – as Playlet – also created the Wikipedia pages of campaign fundraising vehicle Climate 200, independent candidate for Wentworth Allegra Spender and Greens candidate for Macnamara Steph Hodgins-May.
He also made about 70 edits in the past year to the page of then incumbent MP Tim Wilson, against whom Ms Daniel successfully ran in the Victorian seat of Goldstein, as well as edits to the pages of former treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Victorian Caulfield MP David Southwick.
Mr Wilson said Ms Daniel should prioritise her constituents, given the election was over.
“Zoe Daniel should focus on the people of Goldstein and call off her attack hounds who spread misinformation in the lead-up to the election and should definitely stop now it’s over,” he said.
Wikipedia is maintained by online volunteers and anyone with an account is able to edit pages.
All changes are recorded and can be viewed by anyone.
A spokeswoman for Ms Daniel said Mr Gottlieb had never been paid by Ms Daniel or by her campaign.
Mr Gottlieb and his wife, Alex Fein, donated about $350 to Ms Daniel’s campaign in Goldstein, according to the teal MP’s website.
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