The Adani Group continues to face mounting challenges as it recently witnessed a staggering loss of Rs 40,000 crore in market valuation, with all ten of its stocks under significant strain. This latest setback for the Gautam Adani-led ports-to-airports conglomerate came just a day after Wikipedia’s allegations on Adani Group went viral. Wikipedia accused some paid editors of creating ‘puffery’ around Adani, his family, and their businesses. The website alleges that non-neutral material was added to the group’s profile, while warnings about conflict-of-interest editing were removed. These accusations highlight growing concerns over the transparency and integrity of the Adani Group, which has been grappling with a host of other issues ranging from allegations of accounting fraud to environmental violations.
What Allegations Wikipedia made on Adani group
According to an article in The Signpost (Wikipedia community’s independent online newspaper), a Wikipedia editor alleged that a paid editor, using a company IP address, rewrote the Adani Group article, while many edited articles to include non-neutral material and removed conflict-of-interest parts. The article also noted that over 40 sockpuppets or undeclared paid editors revised nine related articles on the Adani family and family businesses, with many of them adding non-neutral material or puffery. Additionally, some editors removed warnings about conflict-of-interest editing, and others created articles using methods that avoided Wikipedia’s quality control systems.
Allegations by The Signpost suggest that the company’s sock puppets, who have since been banned, may have used the Wikipedia platform to launch a PR exercise with the intention of misleading the website’s millions of readers. The article further stated that some Adani Group employees were involved in these activities, and that non-neutral content was added to make the group appear favorable, particularly in light of the ongoing controversy with Hindenburg Research. These accusations raise concerns about the potential manipulation of information on Wikipedia and the need for increased transparency in the online platform’s editing processes.
On Tuesday, Nate Anderson, the founder of Hindenburg Research, took to Twitter to share the findings of the report. In his tweet, he revealed that the article highlighted Adani Group’s systematic manipulation of its Wikipedia entries, which included the use of sock puppet accounts, undisclosed paid editors, and the removal of evidence of conflicts of interest.
What is signpost?
The Signpost is the Wikipedia community’s independent online newspaper. It provides news, information, and analysis about Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation, as well as the wider Wikimedia movement. The Signpost covers a wide range of topics related to Wikipedia, including editor engagement, community events, editorial controversies, and the development of the platform’s software and technology. It is written and edited by volunteers who are part of the Wikipedia community, and it is published on a regular basis, with new articles and updates appearing every week.
Impact of Wikipedia’s allegations on Adani Group
The Adani Group has been facing scrutiny ever since Hindenburg Research’s allegations on January 24th, where it accused the conglomerate of orchestrating the “largest con in corporate history”. According to the American firm’s report, the group has allegedly engaged in stock manipulation, accounting fraud, money laundering through offshore shells, and diverting funds from listed companies for several decades. These accusations have further fueled concerns over corporate governance and transparency within the Adani Group, and raised questions about the accountability of large corporations.
