A high-profile PR firm, Portland Communications, founded by Keir Starmer's communications chief Tim Allan, has been accused of outsourcing Wikipedia editing work to improve its clients' online image. According to an investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), the firm allegedly commissioned changes to Wikipedia pages between 2016 and 2024 through a network of editors controlled by a contractor.
The allegations suggest that Portland's network of accounts made subtle but significant changes, such as burying critical information or rephrasing articles to make its clients appear more positive. The practice, known as "Wikilaundering," is widely considered a breach of professional codes and the terms of use set out by the Wikimedia Foundation.
The firm, which has worked on high-profile campaigns for Qatar and other clients, claims that it does not have a relationship with the contractor or any involvement in the alleged edits. However, several former employees told TBIJ that Portland contracted out Wikipedia editing work to avoid detection.
One of the most significant examples of the practice is alleged Wikilaundering related to Qatar's human rights record, particularly around World Cup stadium-building. The changes were made by a network of editors linked to Web3 Consulting, a firm run by consultant Radek Kotlarek, who was contacted for comment but did not respond.
The incident highlights the complex and often opaque nature of PR firms' relationships with social media platforms like Wikipedia. While Portland has a history of making Wikipedia edits, this latest scandal raises questions about the firm's ethics and its relationship with its clients.
The allegations suggest that Portland's network of accounts made subtle but significant changes, such as burying critical information or rephrasing articles to make its clients appear more positive. The practice, known as "Wikilaundering," is widely considered a breach of professional codes and the terms of use set out by the Wikimedia Foundation.
The firm, which has worked on high-profile campaigns for Qatar and other clients, claims that it does not have a relationship with the contractor or any involvement in the alleged edits. However, several former employees told TBIJ that Portland contracted out Wikipedia editing work to avoid detection.
One of the most significant examples of the practice is alleged Wikilaundering related to Qatar's human rights record, particularly around World Cup stadium-building. The changes were made by a network of editors linked to Web3 Consulting, a firm run by consultant Radek Kotlarek, who was contacted for comment but did not respond.
The incident highlights the complex and often opaque nature of PR firms' relationships with social media platforms like Wikipedia. While Portland has a history of making Wikipedia edits, this latest scandal raises questions about the firm's ethics and its relationship with its clients.
I'm kinda surprised that PR firms would resort to something as shady as Wikilaundering... it just seems like a big no-no in the PR world! I mean, you'd think they'd want to build trust with their clients by being transparent and honest about how they're shaping their online image. But hey, who am I to judge? 
they're literally controlling the narrative on wikipedia to make their rich clients look good lol what a thing... 
It's like a wake-up call for everyone involved. And hey, at least we know what's going on now, right? The fact that several former employees came forward is pretty cool too - it shows people are speaking out and not afraid to share the truth.
And who knows, maybe Portland Communications will come out with an explanation that'll make everything better. A girl can dream, right? 
I mean, who needs that kinda power when it comes to shaping public opinion? It's like something straight outta The Social Network or the movie where they hack into everyone's email accounts... remember that? 
i mean i know ppl will say wikipedia is just an open source thing but when you're makin changes to articles left and right it's gotta be legit 
A PR firm that edits Wikipedia to make its clients look better? What's next, a team of ninja editors who can rewrite history for a price? 
I mean, come on, who needs transparency in politics or PR when you can just hide behind a network of puppet editors and call it "Wikilaundering"? 
The fact that they claimed to have no involvement but former employees said otherwise... yeah, that's not suspicious at all 
! Like, how could any PR firm even think it's cool to mess with Wikipedia like that? 
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it's not like they're changing the world for good or anything... more like just trying to manipulate people's perception of their clients' image 
and it raises so many questions about ethics and transparency in PR firms 
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. I mean, think about it - PR firms getting paid to manipulate online content on a massive scale? It's like they're trying to shape public opinion without anyone even noticing 
, with Portland Communications denying any involvement while former employees are coming forward to tell a different story. I'm not sure what the ultimate goal of this "Wikilaundering" practice is, but it's definitely got some serious ethics implications 
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