Author of Wikipedia character assassination takes responsibility
{{WikimediaMention}}
{{date|December 11, 2005}}
[[File:Wikipedia.png|right|140px]]
{{w|Wikipedia Seigenthaler biography incident|Brian Chase}}, 38, of {{w|Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville}}, [[Tennessee]], hand-delivered a letter to the offices of {{w|John Seigenthaler Sr.}} in which he admits responsibility for false information he anonymously posted in a [[Wikipedia]] article.  Initially a prank played on a friend, the false story claimed that Seigenthaler was a suspect in the assassination of President {{w|John F. Kennedy|Kennedy}}. 

The fake biography made rounds in the media after Seigenthaler discovered and denounced it in a ''[[USA Today]]'' op-ed article titled "[http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-11-29-wikipedia-edit_x.htm A false Wikipedia 'biography']".  A known free speech advocate, Seigenthaler refused to press charges. He recommended that Chase be re-hired for the job he was forced to quit when reporters, following leads from ad-hoc cyber detective Daniel Brandt, 57, of {{w|San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio}}, [[Texas]], started calling the offices of his employer.  

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002677060_wiki11.html
|title=Wikipedia prankster confesses
|author=Katharine Q. Seelye
|pub=The Seattle Times
|date=December 11, 2005}}

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[[Category:Wikipedia]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Tennessee]]
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Free speech]]
[[Category:USA Today]]

[[de:Gefälschter Eintrag bei Wikipedia sorgt für Wirbel]]
[[es:El autor de la calumnia al asesor de los Kennedy en la Wikipedia admite su responsabilidad]]
140px
Brian Chase, 38, of Nashville, Tennessee, hand-delivered a letter to the offices of John F. Kennedy|Kennedy. 

The fake biography made rounds in the media after Seigenthaler discovered and denounced it in a USA Today op-ed article titled " A false Wikipedia 'biography'".  A known free speech advocate, Seigenthaler refused to press charges. He recommended that Chase be re-hired for the job he was forced to quit when reporters, following leads from ad-hoc cyber detective Daniel Brandt, 57, of San Antonio, Texas, started calling the offices of his employer.
Wikipedia Crime and law Internet Science and technology North America United States Tennessee Texas Free speech USA Today