Wikipedia Editors Crack Down on AI-Generated Drafts
Feel the need for speed? The gavel came down quickly for the Wikimedia Foundation in the British courts, and speedy deletion is now an option for draft articles filled with "AI slop".
🔔 Wiki Briefing
Drafts or Dross? Wikipedia Moves to Delete AI "Slop" on Sight
In a new move to combat low-quality AI content on Wikipedia, editors at Wikiproject AI Cleanup kicked off a new discussion for how the site should tackle what has been dubbed "AI slop".
According to the new rules, bad AI content qualifies for speedy deletion.The speedy deletion process is meant for those articles that so egregiously violate Wikipedia's rules, the normal collaboration process isn't needed. What's more, new articles drafts that are obviously, and poorly, created with AI tools won't even be considered.
Editors who monitor the Articles for Creation queue have said that they've been overrun with content written by Large language models (LLMs). With this change, the content doesn't need to go through the standard seven-day review period; admins can just remove proposed articles that are deemed blatant AI.
So what are the tell-tale signs of AI-generated drafts? Recurring hallmarks include incorrect or nonexistent citations. Another is the inclusion of the chatbot's voice with phrases like, "Here is your article on TOPIC".
Our own experiments found the same problem with sources: AI simply can't get references right. From incorrect authors to fabricated links, the drafts produced by AI aren't backed up in the verifiable facts. And for an encyclopedia, this is a big problem.
📰 In the News
UK Court Tosses Wikimedia Case, but ID Law Fight Isn’t Over
Last month, the Wikimedia Foundation waded into the debate over online identity verification rules in the UK—only to be quickly shut down.
The Foundation has loudly opposed the UK’s Online Safety Act since it was passed in 2023, and earlier in 2025 made clear its intention to challenge it in court. Why? As written, the law can be interpreted to require Wikipedia to verify contributors' identities, which the Foundation warns would lead to a collapse in British users.
It's still not clear if Wikipedia will be subject to this requirement. That's subject to whether Wikipedia is given a classification of a "Category 1 Service", which has yet to be determined. Writing in the ruling, the judge made it clear that his decision is not "a green light to implement a regime that would significantly impede Wikipedia's operations".
While the High Court of Justice may have dismissed July's legal challenge, the judge reassured the Foundation that it had options. If regulators do classify Wikipedia as a Category 1 Service, July's judgement allows the Foundation to challenge the government again.
👀 What We’ve Got Our Eyes On
Caesar DePaço
Who is Caesar DePaço? According to his Wikipedia page: a Portuguese CEO. But that page now carries a warning at the top informing readers that the article isn't the full story. English language editors have flagged that the article is neither neutral nor comprehensive, because DePaço claimed information about alleged criminal activity was "defamatory" was removed following a court order.
DePaço filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the Wikimedia Foundation and won. Content was removed on August 5 to comply with the Portuguese courts, but English language editors have made clear they do not approve.
AI Overviews
Pew Research has confirmed that users are less likely to click on Google links in the presence of AI Overviews. Wikipedia was in the top three most cited sources for AI results, in fact more commonly found in AI summaries than in traditional search results.
Tom Lehrer
In 2020, noted musical satirist Tom Lehrer released his songs to the public domain. Editors swiftly uploaded them to Wikimedia Commons. His passing at 97 last month raised a new question: does Lehrer's release include the recordings?? Could Lehrer even do this? Or does Warner Music Group have a say?
According to Lehrer's archivist, there's no question: the rights have been released, and we're free to enjoy Lehrer's timeless wit, and remix and repost it as they please.
🧩 Wikipedia Facts
Wikipedia makes music! Hear additions, subtractions, and new users joining the platform in real time, each tied to strings and bells to create an ethereal, relaxing, ever-changing tune at Listen to Wikipedia.
💡 Tips & Tricks
Editors on Wikipedia like to have fun too! Your userpage doesn't have to be boring. Spruce it up with some userboxes to add some personalized flair and let other users know what you're into.
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