Wikipedia

Croatian Wikipedia

Croatian-language edition of Wikipedia

The Croatian Wikipedia is the Croatian language edition of Wikipedia. This edition was introduced in February 2003. As of October 2015, it was the 41st largest edition of Wikipedia by number of articles.[1]

Favicon of Wikipedia Croatian Wikipedia
Wikipedija na hrvatskom jeziku
Type of site
Internet encyclopedia project
OwnerWikimedia Foundation
Created byCroatian wiki community
URLhr.wikipedia.org

Far-right bias

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2009–2021

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In September 2013, complaints of far-right bias on the Croatian Wikipedia began to capture the spotlight when the Facebook page Razotkrivanje sramotne hr.wikipedije ("Exposing the disgraceful Croatian Wikipedia") revealed the issues. As per Jurica Pavičić, a professor at the University of Split, far-right administrators were found to have blocked dozens of rule-abiding users since 2009 for removing false content related to Croatia's politics and WWII history.[2] Meanwhile, Robert Kurelić, a history professor at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, commented that the Croatian Wikipedia[3]

[Was] used by its administrators to promote [...] false and distorted facts [. ...] exploit high-school and university students [...] change their opinions and attitudes.

Notably, the war crimes of the pro-Nazi Ustaše-ruled Independent State of Croatia (NDH)[4] were censored by the far-right administrators.[2] Željko Jovanović, the Minister of Science of Croatia back then, also advised against the use of the Croatian Wikipedia.[5]

The most serious violation by the far-right administrators was their anti-historical designation of the Jasenovac concentration camp, in which 77,000–99,000 were killed,[6] as a "collection camp". These were condemned by scholars, officials, advocacy groups and media critics as antisemitic[7] Holocaust denial.[8][9]

2021

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Following a year-long investigation by the Wikimedia Foundation, several complicit editors and administrators were either banned or demoted, with one of the administrators found to have consolidated his or her power with 80 sockpuppet accounts.[10] Meanwhile, the incident yet again showcased the systemic issues of Wikipedia which have left it vulnerable to organized disinformation. Many critics claimed that it was unacceptable for the matter to have taken over 10 years to be resolved.[8][9] To this day, the Wikimedia Foundation is still criticized for its passivity towards organized disinformation.[9][11]

2023

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In the 57-page article Wikipedia’s Intentional Distortion of the History of the Holocaust published in The Journal of Holocaust Research,[8] Prof. Jan Grabowski and Dr. Shira Klein remarked,[8]

Wikipedia’s administrators have largely failed to uphold Wikipedia’s policies [. ...] has been unable to deal with the issue of persistent distortion [...] Wikipedia’s articles [...] have become a hub of misinformation and antisemitic canards.

Current status

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As of July 2024, around 135 editors were reportedly making 5+ edits per month.[12]

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Other websites

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References

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  1. ↑ Wikimedia list of Wikipedias and their statistics.. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1
    • Sampson, Tim (October 1, 2013). "How pro-fascist ideologues are rewriting Croatia's history". dailydot.com. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
    • Dewey, Caitlin (4 August 2014). "Men's rights activists think a "hateful" feminist conspiracy is ruining Wikipedia". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
    • "The Hunt for Wikipedia's Disinformation Moles". Wired. October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Jovanovićeva poruka učenicima i studentima: Ne koristite hrvatsku Wikipediju!" [Jovanović's message to pupils and students: Don't use Croatian Wikipedia!]. Index.hr (in Croatian). 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Holocaust in Croatia". Yad Vashem. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Jovanović: Djeco, ne baratajte hrvatskom Wikipedijom jer su sadržaji falsificirani" [Jovanović: "Children, do not use the Croatian Wikipedia because its contents are forgeries"]. Novi list (in Croatian). September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Working Definition Of Antisemitism". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
    IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism :
    • Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
    • Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
    • Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
    • Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
    • Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
    • Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
    • Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
    • Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
    • Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
    • Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
    • Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2
  10. ↑ "Croatian Wikipedia Disinformation Assessment-2021 – Meta". Meta Wikimedia. Retrieved 2021-06-14. Many articles created and edited by the members of this group present the views that match political and socio-cultural positions advocated by a loosely connected group of Croatian radical right political parties and ultra-conservative populist movements. The group has been using its positions of power to attract new like-minded contributors, silence and ban dissenters, manipulate community elections and subvert Wikipedia's and the broader movement's native conflict resolution mechanisms.
  11. ↑ Krnić, Lovro. "Početak kraja Endehapedije". Portal Novosti. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  12. ↑ "Wikistats - Statistics For Wikimedia Projects". stats.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2024-07-28.


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