Behind the Scenes: Editors Addressing Wikipedia’s Arms Trade Content

The popular adage that “anyone can edit Wikipedia” reflects the platform’s open nature. However, the reality is that a mere 270,000 dedicated volunteers actively contribute to this vast online encyclopedia. These individuals curate content across a wide range of topics, from historical medicine to contemporary social media trends. Despite this broad scope, certain areas—such as representations of the global south and notable women—often remain underserved. A new initiative aims to address one such overlooked topic: the arms industry.

Recently, a group of about two dozen volunteers gathered in a central London classroom for a “wikithon,” an event designed for collaborative in-person editing of Wikipedia. Participants comprised a diverse mix, including seasoned editors in their 70s and enthusiastic newcomers unfamiliar with the editing process. Their focus included subjects like Palantir, Project Maven, and Nitro-Chem.

Agnes Cameron, co-founder of the event, noted, “Wikipedia pages about the arms industry, in general, are not always super-detailed.” The wikithon, inspired by the n-Space programme at Somerset House Studios, aimed to improve the quality and organization of publicly available information relating to the arms sector.

Participants at the event received guidance on how to contribute to this trusted resource. While inserting information onto Wikipedia is relatively straightforward, ethical considerations quickly arise. Cameron stated, “The interesting thing about Wikipedia editing is that you’re encouraged to edit things you care about.” The complexity of conflicts of interest is significant, especially in politically charged topics.

Cameron personally enjoys editing food-related entries; however, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining impartiality when tackling the arms industry. She stated, “This is not an anti-arms industry campaigning event. This is about factual information on Wikipedia.”

Wikipedia strictly prohibits original research and drawing conclusions on its pages. Thus, the essential aim of the arms industry wikithon is to compile existing public knowledge from reliable sources into a cohesive format.

Despite its commendable mission, Wikipedia has faced ongoing criticism regarding the lack of diversity among its contributors and the topics it covers. Geographical bias typically skews toward the West, with most articles focusing on the United States and Western Europe. Notably, only 19% of biography entries feature women, highlighting the need for a more inclusive narrative.

Co-founder Hannah Cobb remarked that the diverse demographics participating in the wikithon are helping to bridge this gap. She elaborated, “There’s a very specific idea of who edits Wikipedia… that doesn’t reflect the diverse interests of those who engage with it.”

Previous wikithons organized by Cameron and Cobb, held in Manchester and London, attracted over 60 participants per event, including a mix of activists and journalists. Cobb indicated that newcomers were particularly keen on exploring how Wikipedia can enhance public understanding of complex geopolitical issues. “There is a sense of powerlessness when it comes to countering the narrative by big tech and the military industrial complex,” she shared.

As editors worked on the arms industry topics, their contributions took immediate effect on the internet. Cobb noted, “When you write something on Wikipedia, it appears immediately online. That experience alone is quite empowering.” While the volunteers respect Wikipedia’s commitment to high standards, they choose not to publicize specific edits due to concerns about potential malicious reversions.

Cameron expressed uncertainty regarding how the broader Wikipedia community might respond to their events. The activity’s overlap between activism and rigorous information dissemination presents a unique challenge to Wikipedia’s guidelines.

Conflicts surrounding real-world issues often permeate Wikipedia, prompting heated debates among editors. The platform has previously been used as a battleground for ideological warfare, reflecting its role as an informational battleground. Cameron hopes that their initiative can evolve into a formal WikiProject, a collaborative effort to enhance specific subject pages, particularly within the actively maintained WikiProject Military History.

With another wikithon session scheduled for winter, both Cameron and Cobb remain steadfast in their belief that editing Wikipedia can serve as a powerful political tool. As Cameron aptly stated, “Wikipedia is fundamentally anti-fascist.”