IP addresses traced back to NYPD computers have reportedly been used to alter Wikipedia entries regarding alleged acts of police brutality committed by the department, a report claims.
Capital reports that computers from the NYPD's headquarters at 1 Police Plaza either augmented or tried to delete pages detailing the deaths of Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Eric Garner, and more:
Capital identified 85 NYPD addresses that have edited Wikipedia, although it is unclear how many users were involved, as computers on the NYPD network can operate on the department’s range of IP addresses.
NYPD IP addresses have also been used to edit entries on stop-and-frisk, NYPD scandals, and prominent figures in the city’s political and police leadership.
There are more than 15,000 IP addresses registered to the NYPD, which employs 50,000 people, including uniformed officers and civilians. Notable Wikipedia activity was linked to about a dozen of those NYPD IP addresses.
According to Capital, multiple changes were made to the page chronicling Garner's death just hours after a Staten Island grand jury elected not to indict Officer Daniel Pantleo for his role in Garner's death:
● Garner raised both his arms in the air was changed to Garner flailed his arms about as he spoke.
● [P]ush Garner's face into the sidewalk was changed to push Garner's head down into the sidewalk.
● Use of the chokehold has been prohibited was changed to Use of the chokehold is legal, but has been prohibited.
● The sentence, Garner, who was considerably larger than any of the officers, continued to struggle with them, was added to the description of the incident.
● Instances of the word chokehold were replaced twice, once to chokehold or headlock, and once to respiratory distress.
What's more, Capital notes that, as of yesterday, three revisions still remained on Garner's page. NYPD Spokeswoman Det. Cheryl Crispin told Capital via email that the situation "is under internal review."
[via Capital New York]
