Wikipedia being used as public image site

LONDON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Officials connected to the CIA and Britain's Labor Party have altered Wikipedia entries in an attempt to enhance those groups' public image, a report shows.

A new Web site that tracks Internet activity found individuals connected to both organizations made alterations to online definitions in an attempt to gain additional public support, The Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Among the CIA-based changes were editorial changes to Wikipedia entries about former U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

The online editorial efforts didn't mark the first time a specific group was accused of purposefully altering its Wikipedia entry in order to obtain a more favorable description.

The technology giant Microsoft previously revealed it had paid an individual to alter specific details on Wikipedia about some of the company's products.

The British newspaper said that in addition to the Labor Party, several U.S. politicians have been linked to online corrections aimed at producing overall more positive Wikipedia entries.