[hagbard_c]

Some 'misinformation' is hard to correct because the corrections are reversed by those who are intent on spreading the 'misinformation'. This is especially prevalent around contentious and/or politically sensitive subjects like the mentioned SARS2-related cases. This is what makes it hard to trust articles on such subjects on Wikipedia.

[komali2]

If this is quite widespread, it should be fairly straightforward to point to an example of a page that's being defaced with misinformation, which would include an edit history and perhaps a Talk page documenting whatever sides to the debate there is that's preventing consensus.

I don't disagree that weird bullshit occasionally happens on Wikipedia, but I have noticed that as soon as light is cast on it, it usually evaporates and a return to factual normality is established.

[brigandish]

My go-to example is the "Constitution" of Medina[1]

> It is widely considered to be one of the first written constitutions of mankind.

Now go to the page on constitutions in history[2] and see how far down the list that one is.

Now go back to the Constitution of Medina (itself an example of misinformation, since it should be charter or even more precisely, treaty, but those protecting the page have meddled with the title too) and look at the reference it uses[3] and what it says to get a feel for the kind of "reference" that is being used there, and then try and update said Wikipedia page by removing the parts about its being the first.

The talk pages of both show that invested groups have been trying to force their views, and they've done it quite successfully.

Let us all know how you get on with that, and then I'll point you to the next example, and the next example…

Some other notable things to check are co-founder Larry Sanger's 9 theses[4], and the news that broke yesterday about a PR firm doing "Wikilaundering"[5].

That's just the tip of the iceberg.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Medina

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution#History_and_devel...

[3] https://journalijcar.org/issues/first-written-constitution-w...

[4] https://larrysanger.org/nine-theses/#1-end-decision-making-b...

[5] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/16/pr-firm-p...

[Gander5739]

I don't really understand how you've come to that conclusion. If you look at the protection log[1], Constitution of Medina was protected in 2016 for a bit under a month, and never outside of that. The "earliest constitution" was also discussed in 2016[2][3], and there was consensus not to include the claim. Then, in November 2025, it was re-added by a new editor who made no other edits[4]. Looking at the talk page of Constitution, it was discussed exactly once, in 2005[5].

So, next example?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&page=... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Dispute_resolution_n... [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Constitution_of_Medina/Ar... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constitution_of_M... [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Constitution/Archive_1#Fi...?

[brigandish]

Why is the protection of a page relevant?

Why is this "consensus not to include the claim" relevant when the claim was already included?

Why did it have to go to dispute at all?

> So, next example?

Please.

[Gander5739]

> Why is the protection of a page relevant?

>> those protecting the page have meddled with the title too

> Why is this "consensus not to include the claim" relevant when the claim was already included? Because anyone can dispute anything. But saying it's some kind of agenda by a group of admins is incorrect.

> Why did it have to go to dispute at all? Because someone disputed it. Though, really, it may not have been necessary in this case. You may also refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Guy_Macon/One_against_man...

[brigandish]

You’re taking those questions too literally. The need for dispute resolution implies a dispute, well done… if you’re in to one-step thinking. Explain how there was a dispute over the facts there and how it wasn’t intentional misinformation pushed by a group of interested parties that have continued to press their case from before that date until now.

Or, you can put it down to an honest mistake or difference of opinion. That really is the oldest written constitution in the world, or it’s got a valid claim to be, and those people don’t want to add any respectability to their pet project.

Tough choice. The phrases “die on that hill” and “never interrupt your opponent when they’re making a mistake” come to mind. Do continue.

[breppp]

worse yet, you might read some topics and won't expect them to be poisoned with misinformation. Like the Holocaust history in Poland

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/history_news_articles/151... https://slate.com/technology/2023/04/how-wikipedia-covers-th...