View source for Wikipedia:Counter-Vandalism Unit/Subtle Vandalism Taskforce

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{{Redirect|WP:SUBTLE||Wikipedia:Vandalism#Subtle vandalism}}
{{Shortcut|WP:SVT}}
The '''Subtle Vandalism Taskforce''' ('''SVT''') is a collaboration of editors attempting to combat the problem of subtle vandalism to the encyclopedia. The task force is focused on identifying the issues and possible solutions.

==The problem==
[[WP:Vandalism|Vandalism]] on Wikipedia is a widespread problem. A number of tools have been created to confront these problems, including editors that review recent changes to Wikipedia, automated programs (bots) that undo very obvious vandalism, an edit filter that flags and sometimes prohibits problem edits, a notice board to block vandalizing editors, and a multitude of software programs and scripts that assist editors in these tasks. These responses have been very effective in reducing the amount of blatant vandalism. These methods are so good that most readers do not see obvious examples of vandalism when reading the encyclopedia.

What lingers are instances of subtle vandalism. In particular, subtle factual errors represent a pernicious threat to the integrity and credibility of Wikipedia. Errors introduced deliberately contribute to [[criticism of Wikipedia]] and undermine the hard work of thousands by undermining its [[veracity]]. For more extensive, but potent examples of this, see [[Wikipedia biography controversy]] and [[Henryk Batuta hoax]].

This task force is an attempt to understand those threats, and develop new tools, methods, and norms to combat them.

==Scope==
The SVT is focused purely on deliberate factual errors. It is not interested in content disputes, nor is it interested in honest mistakes, common errors, or more general "blatant" vandalism.

Common types of [[WP:VANDTYPES|subtle vandalism]] include:
<!-- Feel free to add to this list, but try to keep the list of a manageable size -->
* Birth/death date change vandalism – Changing birth/death dates, often by small amounts
* Athlete vital statistics – Changing athlete vital statistics (height, handedness, other physical attributes)
* Other date change vandalism, including changing dates of events, TV programs
* Math and science change vandalism – Relatively rare, but especially damaging to the encyclopedia's credibility, and especially hard to recognize
* Geographical coordinate vandalism – Relatively rare, easily identified, but rarely followed up on

==Goals==
The long term goal of the task force is to create tools to deal with subtle factual error vandalism that are as effective as those created to deal with the more obvious forms of vandalism.

==Joining==
There are no criteria for inclusion other than that an editor must be in good standing (no recent blocks for vandalism) and must be generally familiar with Wikipedia policies. Joining is not required to discuss, nor does it give any special privileges. It is merely a show of support for the purposes of the task force.

Add your name to the list if you would like to participate.

*[[User:FlowerPetals|<span style="font-family:Curlz MT; color:DarkOrchid; text-shadow:blue 0.2em 0.2em 0.4em;">FlowerPetals</span>]][[User talk:FlowerPetals|<span style="font-family:Curlz MT; text-shadow:blue 0.2em 0.2em 0.4em;">''📪''</span>]] 00:12, 22 September 2020 (UTC)
*[[User:JazzClam|JazzClam]][[User:JazzClam|JazzClam]] ([[User talk:JazzClam|talk]]) 14:18, 22 May 2020 (UTC)
* [[User:Uncletomwood|Uncletomwood]] ([[User talk:Uncletomwood|talk]]) 09:09, 14 August 2016 (UTC)
*[[User: Sukhjitsehra]] 12:21, 20 December 2012 (INDIA)
*[[User:Shadowjams|Shadowjams]] ([[User talk:Shadowjams|talk]]) 07:51, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
* [[User:Bgpaulus|Bgpaulus]] ([[User talk:Bgpaulus|talk]]) 16:53, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
* <font color="silver">[[User:Silver seren|Silver]]</font><font color="blue">[[User talk:Silver seren|seren]]</font><sup>[[Special:Contributions/Silver seren|C]]</sup> 18:44, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
* <font style="font-family:Monotype Corsiva; font-size:15px;">[[User:Sphilbrick|<span style="background:#002868;color:#fff;padding:0 4px">SPhilbrick</span>]][[User talk:Sphilbrick|<span style="background:#ADD8E6;padding:0 4px;color:#fff;">T</span>]]</font> 21:44, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
* [[User:Kmw2700|Kmw2700]] ([[User talk:Kmw2700|talk]]) 16:15, 12 May 2010 (UTC)
* Mistakes being introduced into articles are definitely a problem, and need to be dealt with. - [[w:User:EdoDodo|<font color="#21421E" face="Harrington">EdoDodo</font>]] <sup>[[w:User talk:EdoDodo|<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#33dd44">talk</span>]]</sup> 20:34, 12 May 2010 (UTC)
* [[User:JamesBWatson|JamesBWatson]] ([[User talk:JamesBWatson|talk]]) 13:23, 16 May 2010 (UTC)
*[[User:Immunize]]-Even though I often deal more with blatant and obvious vandalism, subtle vandalism or introduction of incorrect information is a major problem, and I will look to revert it. [[User:Immunize|Immunize ]] ([[User talk:Immunize|talk]]) 21:58, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
*[[User:wackywace|<font color="red">W</font><font color="orange">a</font><font color="yellow">c</font><font color="green">k</font><font color="blue">y</font><font color="black">Wace</font>]] [[User talk:wackywace|<sup><font color="grey">talk</font></sup>]] 08:40, 30 May 2010 (UTC)
* [[User:MrStalker|<b><font color="black">Mr</font><font color="darkred">Stalker</font></b>]]&nbsp;<sup>([[User talk:MrStalker|<font color="black">talk</font>]])</sup> 13:38, 22 June 2010 (UTC)
* {{User|BigK HeX}}
* [[User:Evilgohan2|<span style="color: #DD0000">ⒺⓋⒾ</span><span style="color: #AA0000">ⓁⒼⓄ</span><span style="color: #660000">ⒽⒶⓃ</span><span style="color: #330000">②</span>]] I indeed support this and will fight it when come across.
* "[[User:Kevon100|<span style="color: blue"><big><strong>Kevon100</big></strong></span>]]  <sup>[[User_Talk:Kevon100|<span style="color: red">Talk!</span>]]</sup> <sub>[[Special:Contributions/Kevon100|<span style="color: green">If you're </span> ❺❺❺ <span style="color: green">then I'm </span>❻❻❻]]</sub> 
* [[User:WeijiBaikeBianji|WeijiBaikeBianji]] ([[User talk:WeijiBaikeBianji|talk]]) 04:32, 22 September 2010 (UTC)
* [[User:Extramural|Extramural]]
* [[User:JohnCD|JohnCD]] ([[User talk:JohnCD|talk]]) 12:12, 13 November 2010 (UTC)
* [[User:Ng.j|Ng.j]] ([[User talk:Ng.j|talk]]) 11:28, 7 December 2010 (UTC)
*[[User:Gregorik|<big>ᴳᴿᴲᴳᴼᴿᴵᴷ</big>]]☺[[User Talk:Gregorik|<span style="color:blue">ᶤᶯᵈᶸᶩᶢᵉ</span>]] 19:31, 27 March 2011 (UTC)
*[[User:Mephistophelian|Mephistophelian]] ([[User talk:Mephistophelian|talk]]) 02:39, 19 April 2011 (UTC)
* [[User:Ramajois|Shriram]] ([[User talk:Ramajois|talk]]) 10:24, 7 July 2011 (UTC)
*[[User:Edison|Edison]] ([[User talk:Edison|talk]]) 19:25, 16 July 2011 (UTC)
*[[user:causa sui|causa sui]] ([[user talk:causa sui|talk]]) 21:44, 21 July 2011 (UTC)
*[[User:Codrinb|Codrin.B]] ([[User talk:Codrinb|talk]]) 15:09, 14 March 2012 (UTC)
* [[User:Geraldshields11|Geraldshields11]] ([[User talk:Geraldshields11|talk]]) 14:49, 12 July 2012 (UTC) I am working against vandalism in all of its forms.
* [[User:Mojoworker|Mojoworker]] ([[User talk:Mojoworker|talk]]) 23:40, 3 September 2012 (UTC)
* [[User:Jim1138|Jim1138]] ([[User talk:Jim1138|talk]]) 17:43, 5 September 2012 (UTC)
* [[User:Kudpung|Kudpung]] ([[User talk:Kudpung|talk]]). [[User:Kudpung|Kudpung กุดผึ้ง]] ([[User talk:Kudpung|talk]]) 00:28, 3 November 2012 (UTC)
* [[User:Shaun9876|<span style="color:lightgreen"> §h₳un</span>]] [[User talk:Shaun9876|<span style="color:red">9∞76</span>]]  01:46, 17 November 2012 (UTC) Vandalism in any form is still Vandalism...
* '''[[User:Nerdfighter|<font color=#088A08>nerd</font color=#088A08>]][[User_Talk:Nerdfighter|<font color=#0489B1>fighter</font color=#0489B1>]]''' 03:30, 11 January 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:OakRunner|OakRunner]] ([[User talk:OakRunner|talk]]) 03:52, 21 January 2013 (UTC)
* '''<span style="background:Yellow;font-family:Helvetica Bold;color:Blue;">[[User:Jeff G.|Jeff G. ツ]] [[User:Jeff G./talk|<small>(talk)</small>]]</span>''' 20:19, 7 February 2013 (UTC)
* [[User:Way2veers|Way2veers]] ([[User talk:Way2veers|talk]]) 02:16, 20 February 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Reify-tech|Reify-tech]] ([[User talk:Reify-tech|talk]]) 01:20, 31 March 2013 (UTC)
* <span style="background:#FFF; text-shadow:0px 0px .3em LightSkyBlue">[[User:TheIrishWarden|<font color="green">Thєíríshwαrdєn</font>]][[User talk:TheIrishWarden|<font color="#FF7E00"> - írísh αnd prσud</font>]]</span> 18:39, 31 March 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Lee Tru.|Lee]] [[User talk:Lee Tru.|Tru.]] 19:48, 29 April 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Peter Chastain|Peter Chastain]] ([[User talk:Peter Chastain|talk]]) 08:08, 18 June 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:George8211|George8211]] ([[User talk:George8211|talk]]) 17:56, 21 June 2013 (UTC)
* <font colour="green">[[User:Gbrading|gbrading]]</font> <font color="black"><small><i>[[User talk:Gbrading|&tau;&alpha;l&kappa;]]</i></small></font> 21:34, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Bob25062001|Bob25062001]] ([[User talk:Bob25062001|talk]]) 10:18, 17 September 2013 (UTC)
* <code>[[User:Zad68|<span style="color:#D2691E">'''Zad'''</span>]][[User_Talk:Zad68|<span style="color:#206060">''68''</span>]]</code> 02:55, 16 October 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Sgr927|<big>''Sgr''</big>]][[User_talk:Sgr927|''927'']] 21:10, 26 October 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Pakcikfarhan|<big>''Pakcikfarhan''</big>]][[User_talk:Pakcikfarhan|talk]] 1:42, 26 November 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Miszatomic|Miszatomic]] ([[User talk:Miszatomic|talk]]) 16:29, 27 November 2013
*[[User:Trivialist|Trivialist]] ([[User talk:Trivialist|talk]]) 00:03, 5 December 2013 (UTC)
*[[User:Nick Levine|Nick Levine]] ([[User talk:Nick Levine|talk]]) 11:45, 19 January 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Optakeover|<span style="color:#ffffff; background:#31004d; font-family:Tahoma">Optakeover</span>]][[User talk:Optakeover|<span style="color:#0f00db"><sup>(Talk)</sup></span>]]  15:02, 13 February 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Denisarona|Denisarona]] ([[User talk:Denisarona|talk]]) 05:54, 15 February 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:EuroCarGT|<font color="cyan">'''///Euro'''</font><font color="grey">'''Car'''</font>]][[User talk:EuroCarGT|<font color="orange">'''GT'''</font>]] 04:21, 21 February 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Cyphoidbomb|Cyphoidbomb]] ([[User talk:Cyphoidbomb|talk]]) 04:59, 21 February 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Rhinestone_K|Rhinestone K]] ([[User talk:Rhinestone_K|talk]]) 01:11, 20 March 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Abhinav0908]]14:04, 20 May 2014 (UTC
*<span style="text-shadow:gray 4px 4px 3px;">''[[User:Negative24|-24]]<sup>[[User Talk:Negative24|Talk]]</sup></span>'' 00:04, 6 May 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Fungal vexation|Fungal vexation]] ([[User talk:Fungal vexation|talk]]) 17:36, 28 May 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Good afternoon|Good afternoon]] ([[User talk:Good afternoon|talk]]) 04:43, 16 July 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Seaphoto|<font color="3333cc">'''Sea'''</font><font color="330099">'''photo'''</font>]]<sup>[[User_talk:Seaphoto|<font color="3333cc">Talk</font>]]</sup> 05:05, 23 September 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Ochilov|<span style="font-family:Segoe print; color:#008000; text-shadow:gray 0.2em 0.2em 0.4em;">Ochilov</span>]] [[User talk:Ochilov|<span style="color:#00FFFF">''(talk)''</span>]] 12:36, 27 December 2014 (UTC)
*[[User:Epicgenius|Epic Genius]] ([[User talk:Epicgenius|talk]]) 18:18, 13 March 2015 (UTC)
*[[User:Dan Koehl|Dan Koehl]] ([[User talk:Dan Koehl|talk]]) 09:40, 17 March 2015 (UTC)
* [[User:Jdkonz|Jdkonz]] ([[User talk:Jdkonz|talk]]) 17:56, 18 June 2015 (UTC
* [[User:Horse Dancing|Horse Dancing]] ([[User talk:Horse Dancing|talk]]){{}}
*[[User:TerraCodes|<span style="color:#FF823D;font-family:comic sans ms">'''T<font color="#FF7C0A">e<font color="#FFB550">r</font>r</font>a'''</span>]] <sup>[[User_talk:TerraCodes|<font color="#74C2FF">❤</font>]]</sup> 08:17, 28 March 2016 (UTC)
*[[User:Lenthrand|Lenthrand]] ([[User talk:Lenthrand|talk]])
*[[User: Mdriscoll03]] ([[User talk:Mdriscoll03|talk]])
*[[User: KSci|KSci]] [[User:KSci|KSci]] ([[User talk:KSci|talk]]) 18:35, 3 October 2016 (UTC)
*<span style="text-shadow:7px 5px 7px grey;font-family:High Tower Text">-- [[User:TwistedByFate#top|<span style="color:#123524">TwistedByFate</span>]] <sup>[[User talk:TwistedByFate|<span style="color:#353839"> </span>]]</sup></span>
*[[User: Akshaypillai]] 9:26, 8 february 2014 (INDIA) <small>03:57, 8 February 2017 UTC</small>
* <span class="unicode" style="color:black;text-shadow:0.1em 0.1em 0.1em #777777">[[User:Lemondoge|Lemon]]&#8202;[[User talk:Lemondoge|doge]] [[Special:Contributions/Lemondoge|<span style="color:orange">📡</span>]]</span> 19:00, 12 February 2017 (UTC)
*[[User:Yashovardhan Dhanania|Yashovardhan]] ([[User talk:Yashovardhan Dhanania|talk]]) 13:58, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
*[[User:Tornado chaser|Tornado chaser]] ([[User talk:Tornado chaser|talk]]) 18:10, 22 May 2017 (UTC)
* [[User:Loopy30|Loopy30]] ([[User talk:Loopy30|talk]]) 17:05, 19 July 2017 (UTC)
* [[User:Ammarpad|Ammarpad]] ([[User talk:Ammarpad|talk]]) 18:25, 9 October 2017 (UTC)
* [[User:Hummerrocket|<span style="background-color: #FFD700; color: #4169E1; font: Comic; font-size:110%">Hummerrocket</span>]] [[User talk:Hummerrocket|<span style = "color: #2E8B57; font-style: italic">(talk)</span>]] 02:05, 11 October 2017 (UTC)
* [[User:Woscafrench|Woscafrench]] ([[User talk:Woscafrench|talk]]) 21:45, 1 November 2017 (UTC)
*[[User:Dr.Pietroczar|Dr.Pietroczar]]
* [[User:Shellwood|Shellwood]] ([[User talk:Shellwood|talk]]) 11:44, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
* [[User:Luis150902|<span style="color:#f00;">Luis150902</span>]] ([[User talk:Luis150902|<span style="color:#990;">talk</span>]] &#124; [[Special:Contributions/Luis150902|<span style="color:#008000;">contribs</span>]]) 14:36, 19 February 2018 (UTC)
*[[User:SithLord005|SithLord005]] April 6th 2018
*[[User:Ezehenry55|Henry_diGREAT]] ([[User talk:Ezehenry55|talk]]) 16:01, 18 April 2018 (UTC +1)
* '''- zfJames''' <small>''Please [[Template:Reply_to|ping me in your reply]] on this page ''</small> ([[User_talk:ZfJames|chat page ]], [[Special:Contributions/ZfJames|contribs]])
* [[User:Kpgjhpjm|<span style="color: #77B5FE">Kpgj</span>]][[User talk:Kpgjhpjm|<span style="color: red">hpjm</span>]] 13:18, 22 June 2018 (UTC)
* — AfroThundr <sup>([[User:AfroThundr3007730|u]] · [[User talk:AfroThundr3007730|t]] · [[Special:Contributions/AfroThundr3007730|c]])</sup> 02:51, 2 July 2018 (UTC)
* [[User:Lotje|Lotje]] ([[User talk:Lotje|talk]]) 08:22, 2 July 2018 (UTC)
* [[User:CommanderOzEvolved|CommanderOzEvolved]] ([[User talk:CommanderOzEvolved|Comm-Net]]) ([[Special:Contributions/CommanderOzEvolved|Action-Log]]) 04:25, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
* [[User:VictorTorres2002|VictorTorres2002]] ([[User talk:VictorTorres2002|talk]]) 20:23, 11 November 2018 (UTC)
* [[User:Girth Summit|Girth Summit]] [[User:Girth Summit|<span style="font-family:Impact;color:#294;">Girth</span><span style="font-family:Impact;color:#42c;">Summit</span>]][[User talk:Girth Summit|<sub style="font-family:script;color:blue;"> (blether)</sub>]] 22:45, 29 November 2018 (UTC)
* [[user:QueerEcofeminist| '''<span style="background color: black; color:#008000">QueerEcofeminist</span>''']]<sup> [[user talk:QueerEcofeminist|<span style="color: maroon">"cite! even if you fight"!!!</span>]]</sup> [they/them/their] 07:20, 21 March 2019 (UTC)
* [[User:Lotje|Lotje]] ([[User talk:Lotje|talk]]) 13:29, 21 March 2019 (UTC)
* [[User:Xinbenlv|Xinbenlv]] ([[User talk:Xinbenlv|talk]]) 22:09, 12 July 2019 (UTC)
* [[User:SacredDragonX|SacredDragonX]] ([[User talk:SacredDragonX|talk]]) 22:55, 21 August 2019 (UTC)
* '''[[User:Path slopu|<span style="color:Red">PA</span><span style="color:Green">TH</span>]] [[User talk:Path slopu|<span style="color:Blue">SL</span><span style="color:Maroon">OP</span><span style="color:Darkorange">U</span>]]''' 13:51, 22 September 2019 (UTC)
* [[User:PinkElixir|PinkElixir]] ([[User talk:PinkElixir|talk]]) 01:22, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
* [[User:Slykos|Slykos]] ([[User talk:Slykos|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Slykos|contribs]] • [[Special:UserRights/Slykos|rights]]) 19:17, 1 December 2020 (UTC)
* '''''[[en:User:Asension|<span style="color:#00FFFF">Ase</span><span style="color:#008080">ns</span><span style="color:#0000FF">ion</span>]]''''' ([[User talk:Asension#top|talk]]) 05:14, 13 December 2020 (UTC)

==First step==
The first step is to gather as much feedback as practical and identify specific classes of problems (the "Scope" above should roughly represent these classes), identify patterns that emerge in each class or as a whole, and to brainstorm possible solutions.

=== Preliminary ideas ===
<!-- Feel free to add discussed ideas, but please hold discussions on the Talk page -->

* '''Subtle vandalism noticeboard''' - A way to keep track of these edits, and report them. Sometimes these are too long-term or spread out for AIV, but not severe enough for [[WP:Long term abuse]]. This could fill the middle ground. It could also filter out the edits that are not vandalism, with an expertise and care that's simply not practical at AIV.
* '''Edit filter''' - Suggestions about additions to edit filter. There are some technical limitations to edit filter that make wide-spread rules difficult to implement, but some smaller subsets may be practical. Especially if you are familiar with [[WP:Edit filter]] or [[Regular expressions]], your input would be extremely valuable here.
* '''Project awareness''' - Help inform projects that are susceptible to this sort of vandalism, or the victim of it, that it is occurring so that members can be aware and report / warn the editors doing it. I've witnessed project specific vandalism where it is undone on a single article, but each person undoing it is unaware that the editor has also done 10 other examples of the same edit.
*'''New programs''' - Develop tools to analyze either wikimedia dumps of article changes, or a bot to analyze changes in real time and flag suspect changes for followup by a human editor. This would require programing experience, and probably would require discussion with developers given the API load of such a program. However this approach could be finely tuned, look for patterns, and could have a high degree of accuracy.
*Deltaquad has adopted Botlaf's code and restarted pooppatrol<!--This is not vandalism, it was actually called pooppatrol-->. Results already available at [[User:DeltaQuadBot/Job requests]], and some vandalism picked up that has evaded both the hugglers and the watchlisters. If anyone wants to get involved or add queries then please get in touch. ''[[User:WereSpielChequers|<span style="color:DarkGreen">Ϣere</span>]][[User talk:WereSpielChequers|<span style="color:DarkRed">Spiel</span>]]<span style="color:DarkOrange">Chequers</span>'' 18:35, 20 March 2011 (UTC)

==Userboxes==
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