The Use of Software Tools and Autonomous Bots Against Vandalism: Eroding Wikipedia's Moral Order?
Authors | Paul B. de Laat |
|---|---|
Publication date | 2015 |
DOI | 10.1007/s10676-015-9366-9 |
Links | Original |
The Use of Software Tools and Autonomous Bots Against Vandalism: Eroding Wikipedia's Moral Order? - scientific work related to Wikipedia quality published in 2015, written by Paul B. de Laat.
Overview
English-language Wikipedia is constantly being plagued by vandalistic contributions on a massive scale. In order to fight them its volunteer contributors deploy an array of software tools and autonomous bots. After an analysis of their functioning and the `coactivity' in use between humans and bots, this research `discloses' the moral issues that emerge from the combined patrolling by humans and bots. Administrators provide the stronger tools only to trusted users, thereby creating a new hierarchical layer. Further, surveillance exhibits several troubling features: questionable profiling practices (concerning anonymous users in particular), the use of the controversial measure of reputation (under consideration), `oversurveillance' where quantity trumps quality, and a prospective loss of the required moral skills whenever bots take over from humans. The most troubling aspect, though, is that Wikipedia has become a Janus-faced institution. One face is the basic platform of MediaWiki software, transparent to all. Its other face is the anti-vandalism system, which, in contrast, is opaque to the average user, in particular as a result of the algorithms and neural networks in use. Finally it is argued that this secrecy impedes a much needed discussion to unfold; a discussion that should focus on a `rebalancing' of the anti-vandalism system and the development of more ethical information practices towards contributors.
Embed
Wikipedia Quality
Laat, Paul B. de. (2015). "[[The Use of Software Tools and Autonomous Bots Against Vandalism: Eroding Wikipedia's Moral Order?]]". Springer Netherlands. DOI: 10.1007/s10676-015-9366-9.
English Wikipedia
{{cite journal |last1=Laat |first1=Paul B. de |title=The Use of Software Tools and Autonomous Bots Against Vandalism: Eroding Wikipedia's Moral Order? |date=2015 |doi=10.1007/s10676-015-9366-9 |url=https://wikipediaquality.com/wiki/The_Use_of_Software_Tools_and_Autonomous_Bots_Against_Vandalism:_Eroding_Wikipedia's_Moral_Order? |journal=Springer Netherlands}}
HTML
Laat, Paul B. de. (2015). "<a href="https://wikipediaquality.com/wiki/The_Use_of_Software_Tools_and_Autonomous_Bots_Against_Vandalism:_Eroding_Wikipedia's_Moral_Order?">The Use of Software Tools and Autonomous Bots Against Vandalism: Eroding Wikipedia's Moral Order?</a>". Springer Netherlands. DOI: 10.1007/s10676-015-9366-9.
