this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2025
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Summary

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, plans to use facial recognition and hacked data to identify Wikipedia editors it alleges are promoting antisemitism, according to leaked documents.

The group’s proposed tactics include fake accounts and tracking links, raising privacy concerns among Wikipedia contributors.

This effort, part of Heritage’s Project Esther, follows controversies over Wikipedia’s handling of Israel-related topics, such as labeling the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) “unreliable.”

Critics warn this campaign to target editors could violate Wikipedia's rules and escalate tensions over bias accusations.

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[–] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 38 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Wikipedia is probably the only thing that has survived rounds and rounds of enshitification. Of course they want to destroy it. The fucks are psychopathic, and seriously, if Wikipedia caves I will probably be radicalized.

[–] untorquer@lemmy.world 7 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

THIS is the line for you? In spite of everything else?

[–] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Not everyone wants to feel like they need to take violent extremist action to fight back against them. What actions have you taken to fight back?

[–] untorquer@lemmy.world -1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Where did you get violent extremism from? That's not radicalization. Though some people who are radicalized choose to incorporate violence as part of direct action it is extremely rare.

Do some mutual aid for starters. (This is what I've done, among other things, i will not elaborate.)

If you want to fight back on this particular issue and have tech skills you can run counter-intel and expose fashy heritage foundation boys or you could do other methods like decoy or feed false identifying info.

I'm happy anyone gets motivated to take action. Just a little surprised that it startes with wikipedia editors and not, just for example, palestine or women's bodily autonomy.

[–] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Where did you get violent extremism from?

Wikipedia for radicalization

[–] untorquer@lemmy.world -3 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Cool, you failed to read the second sentence. That article on mutual aid is fucking insane and paints an idiotic picture on mutual aide. The taliban and religious charity are simply not mutual aid groups, what the fuck. Whole page feels like it was written by a fox news intern...

I'll give ya so much as we have two interpretations i guess. Mine aligned better with the article on "Radical Politics".

Anyone reading in the future just note the timestamp.

[–] jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world 22 points 16 hours ago

What are the names and addresses of the people who are saying they're going to do that?

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 29 points 23 hours ago

Normal Brownshirt stuff.

[–] baltakatei@sopuli.xyz 2 points 13 hours ago

Come and get me.

[–] Kalothar@lemmy.ca 27 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

If you want to download all of Wikipedia just in case

They publish their own database dumps here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Database_download#Where_do_I_get_it.3F

[–] vividspecter@lemm.ee 8 points 16 hours ago

And you can self-host kiwix and use the compressed zim files available here.

[–] don@lemm.ee 45 points 1 day ago

Sounds like we should develop plans to identify and target the heritage foundation.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 27 points 1 day ago

Burning Alexandria bcs knowledge works too much anti-oppression.

[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 202 points 1 day ago (14 children)

violate Wikipedia’s rules and escalate tensions over bias accusations

after being alive over the last ~10 years, i just can't understand how people still think "rules" matter to republicans. there's literally a convicted felon rapist in the white house and people are still talking about rules, laws, ethics, the constitution, and everything else that USED TO matter.

they're getting every single thing they want, and it's not "rules" that'll ever stop them

[–] laurelraven@lemmy.zip 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's not just Republicans at this point... It's the entire system. His inauguration itself will be illegal and unconstitutional since he's ineligible to hold office after sparking insurrection. But the Democrats keep climbing over each other to make sure everyone sees how peaceful this transfer of power is.

[–] compostgoblin@slrpnk.net 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It blows my mind that they keep doing that. Why do they think that going “see, we’re the good guys, and we’re so good that we’re going to peacefully hand over control of every branch of government to the fascists” as though the US population is going to see that a positive. It’s clear now, if it wasn’t before, that their claims of a threat to democracy was just campaign messaging for them, not a real belief. (And to be clear, the Republicans are very much a threat to what passes for democracy in the US.) The Democrats seem all too happy to be in the minority again and rake in the donations from outraged liberals who think that the old rules still apply.

[–] VeryVito@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 hours ago

Appeasement always worked out so well in the past. What could go wrong?

[–] TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world 62 points 1 day ago (2 children)

...people are still talking about rules, laws, ethics, the constitution, and everything else that USED TO matter.

That's because they still believe in the existing institutions that were designed to uphold laws, rules, and ethics, even though those institutions are obviously failing, and have been for some time. I suppose the erosion of said institutions has occurred gradually enough that the full scope hasn't necessarily been apparent to everyone, but it should be by now. Anyone who still believes that these institutions are sufficient for maintaining a stable liberal democracy is just delusional, at this point.

[–] hansolo@lemm.ee 35 points 1 day ago

Exactly this.

Rule of law is dying, and things like this are what will kill it dead. Thinking you can put a stop to this with lawyers is for the naive or the wealthy.

[–] solomon42069@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

Anyone who still believes that these institutions are sufficient for maintaining a stable liberal democracy is just delusional, at this point.

Twenty years ago, I remember asking my high school teacher about how the legal system here in Australia works cause we don't have a bill of rights. I was told the "traditions of Parliament" would protect free speech and human rights even though it's not written down anywhere...

Fast forward twenty years and Australia's government is fully in the pocket of monopolistic corporations and a handful of elite families who own the top banking industries - mining, gambling, etc.

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[–] Artemis_Mystique@lemmy.ml 4 points 17 hours ago

Anyone has an update on the ANI vs Wikimedia legal thats ongoing in India, because the heritage foundation is just throwong around a threat, that Indian judge might actually do it.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 57 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That sounds like a threat to create fear or "terror" towards Wikipedia editors. The heritage foundation are treating closely to looking and acting like terrorists.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 41 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The heritage foundation are ~~treating closely to looking and acting like~~ terrorists.

[–] collapse_already@lemmy.ml 81 points 1 day ago (12 children)

The Heritage address in Washington DC is extremely easy to look up. I would post it here, but someone would probably ban me for doing unto them what they would do unto us. Still the opportunity to get them before they get you exists.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 78 points 1 day ago

Here ya go: 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, D.C., U.S.- right on the Wikipedia page.

Of course, I wouldn't advise doing anything more than a lively peaceful protest outside. But also I can't stop you from doing something more effective.

[–] inv3r5ion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 43 points 1 day ago

Let’s-a-go! - Luigi

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[–] noxet@mander.xyz 39 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe it's finally time for me to donate to Wikipedia for the first time.

[–] formergijoe@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

As soon as muskrat targeted them I set up a monthly donation.

[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 44 points 1 day ago

Awww… are the violent genocidal colonizers feeling insecure and butthurt?

[–] OppaGundamStyle@discuss.tchncs.de 101 points 1 day ago (2 children)

So if it’s legal for them to do it to Wikipedia, can we crowd source doing it to them?

[–] hansolo@lemm.ee 28 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Can't doxx people that gladly shout this kind of stuff in public.

[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago

Consequences make them afraid. And shame works on them too, but only if it is from their kind.

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[–] tiefling@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 1 day ago

Sounds like terrorism to me

[–] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 50 points 1 day ago

Fascists want to attack everything good

[–] conicalscientist@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Opsec is more important than ever. Gangs-talking is real.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 32 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

F the Heritage foundation. Just another conservative propaganda machine that twists objective fact to support conclusions or starts with conclusions and eliminates contrary data or nuance until they get what they want.

This is just more Y’all Qaeda sharia law trying to create their own alternative facts and control the narrative.

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[–] HorikBrun@kbin.earth 28 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Attack information. Don't allow the unwashed masses access to data. Don't allow them to think.

Just headlines, pics and tweets.

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 24 points 1 day ago (6 children)

This is why it pisses me off wikipedia makes it impossible to edit using most VPNs or TOR.

Like I understand there is a spam problem, but lots of people don’t feel safe (or straight up can’t) edit using their normal IP.

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[–] gnomesaiyan@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It's like George Orwell was a prophet.

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[–] boogiebored@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

Maybe I am naive, or was too hopeful, but considering how astroturfed all platforms are by nation states and other bad actors, I only now realized Wikipedia could be extremely compromised due to their inability to withstand such attacks. The internet is over.

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