Wikipedia Vandal Confesses, Apologizes
After all the talk about what happened to John Seigenthaler’s Wikipedia entry, the mischief-maker speaks out. Brian Chase said he created Seigenthaler’s entry as a joke for a co-worker. He claims he had no idea people used Wikipedia seriously and that his joke would cause so much trouble. After learning Seigenthaler was looking for the person who wrote the entry, he apologized in person. Because his employer is linked to the Seigenthalers, he also resigned, though Seigenthaler is fighting his resignation. Seigenthaler says:
"’He was very apologetic; he said it was a practical joke. Of course I accept the apology, but it doesn’t lessen my frustration that anybody can put anything on Wikipedia.’"
Another article explains how Daniel Brandt, a critic of Wikipedia who runs Wikipedia Watch, tracked Brian Chase down on his own. Brandt feels frustrated because he doesn’t want there to be an article about himself in Wikipedia, but doesn’t seem to have a choice. He believes stronly in transparency and thinks Wikipedia should require contributors to identify themselves and perhaps provide citations for their research.