The staff of the Prime minister’s cabinet and the Defense department‘s staff have been editing Wikipedia and removing details to cultivate and improve the Government’s image.

An employee of PM Howard’s cabinet has questioned the living conditions of asylum seekers in island camps. He added the word “allegedly” in a paragraph commented “the inhuman conditions” which this population is subjected. These modifications moderate the importance of the tough policy proposed toward asylum seekers in the victory of the Liberal party in 2001.

The Australian Defense department was revealed as the most prolific source of Wikipedia changes. Its staff is accused of being responsible for more than 5,000 changes to entries in the online encyclopedia. Staffers corrected information about the Australian military, while they have removed negatives comments about the Liberal political party.

That information has been authenticated by the new website Wikipedia Scanner. Wikipedia Scanner can not identify the person who altered Wikipedia entries. However, Wikipedia Scanner can identify the organization network which has originated the change.

Wikipedia Scanner is evidence that the Internet can police itself.  While political appointees use the Web to edit history many on the ‘Net are using its power to keep government honest.