Wikipedia: the offensive edits made from Whitehall PCs
Government computers used to call for Tony Blair's assassination and accuse all Muslims of being terrorists

THE Government is facing fresh questions about unsavoury Wikipedia edits carried out from its own secure computer network. More edits have come to light since it was revealed last week that Whitehall computers were used to make offensive changes to a Wikipedia article about the Hillsborough disaster.
The edits came from two IP addresses known to be connected to the Government Secure Intranet. The Cabinet Office has described the amendments as "sickening" and announced an investigation. However, it has admitted that it will be almost impossible to track down who is responsible.
It is possible to "spoof" IP addresses – making the source of a connection appear to come from another IP address – but the BBC notes that several of the offensive messages were made before the government IP addresses were made public in 2008.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Here are some of the edits that have been revealed:
Racist slursIn the Wikipedia entry for 'Veil', somebody using a government computer added in October 2006: "It should be noted that the word Veil, when the letters rearraged [sic], spells evil. Since the Veil is mostly worn by Muslims, and all Muslims are terrorists (with the argument for this being that all terrorists have been Muslim), this fact should be dually [sic] noted by all". In another entry for 'Howick Falls' on the Umgeni river in South Africa, someone wrote about "killing or enslaving" black people and suggested that black people are uncivilised and believe "hearsay and myth".
Hillsborough disaster insultsThe Liverpool Echo was the first to spot several offensive comments made on Wikipedia's 'Hillsborough disaster' page and trace them back to Whitehall computers. Revisions included "Blame Liverpool fans" and a change to the Liverpool FC's anthem title from "You'll Never Walk Alone" to "You'll Never Walk Again". Another change wrongly claimed that two former Liverpool football players had been charged with crimes against humanity.
Blair editsIn October 2005, paragraphs were deleted about Cherie Blair making a public apology for buying two flats at a discounted price with help from convicted fraudster Peter Foster. Meanwhile, the entry for Tony Blair was deleted entirely and replaced with the words: "He should be assassinated".
Celebrity amendmentsCelebrity chef Jamie Oliver had homophobic insults added to his page and the entire entry for Irish politician Christopher Byrne was replaced with: "Is a sexy beast". An addition to the entry for footballer Wayne Rooney said he was "currently knocking off 'queen chav' Coleen McGlochlin [sic]", while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was described as being "made of clay". Barry Manilow's full name was also changed to "Barry Alan Big Daddy Pincus".
Regional tauntsIn 2011, somebody using a Whitehall computer described the Glasgow suburb Barlanark as being a place "where the men are men, and so are half the women". Around the same time, a description was added to the Wikipedia page for Clydebank, saying: "It is known locally as a total s***hole." On another occasion, the description of a statue of former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was revised from "He made the people happy" to "He made a wonderful lemon drizzle cake".
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
DOGE cuts could mean a reduced US footprint in Antarctica
In the Spotlight About 10% of the National Science Foundation has been laid off
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 options for filing your taxes for free
the explainer This year, the IRS has expanded its Direct File program into 25 states
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is there a Christmas curse on Downing Street?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer could follow a long line of prime ministers forced to swap festive cheer for the dreaded Christmas crisis
By The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published