Wikipedia User Can't Edit 'Recession' Page, Elon Musk: Wikipedia Is Losing Its Objectivity

Wikipedia blocks users who edit the definition of recession. (Wikipedia)

JAKARTA – Wikipedia, which is an online reference source for many people, is reported to have blocked its users from being able to edit the "recession" page. The reason is, lately the Biden government has insisted that the country's economy is not in a recession.

According to Teslarati, the blocking came after a site visitor engaged in what can only be described as an editing war over the definition of the term. One Wikipedia user even edited the page to remove references to the standard definition of recession.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has challenged Wikipedia's decision to restrict users from editing the "recession" page. In a critique in his Twitter post, Musk tagged Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.

“Wikipedia is losing its objectivity @jimmy_wales,” Musk wrote, July 29, 2022.

As is known, US GDP decreased 0.9% due to dollar inflation. This usually meets the traditional definition of a recession. However, the Biden administration has refused to declare that the US is in recession.

“This is not an economy that is in a recession. But we are in a transition period where growth is slowing, and that is necessary and appropriate, and we need to grow at a steady and sustainable pace," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.

Wikipedia usually puts pages in "semi-protected" mode when there is a large amount of intrusion or vandalism from users. By enabling “semi-protected” mode, unregistered users and accounts that are not confirmed or auto-confirmed will not be able to edit the page.

“This article may be affected by current events. The information in this article is subject to change rapidly as events develop,” reads a warning from Wikipedia.

“Semi-protected (mode) is useful when there is a large amount of intrusion or vandalism from new or unregistered users, or to prevent users who are blocked or prohibited from editing, especially when it happens to biographies of living people that have recently had high levels. media interests,” according to Wikipedia.