Overview
- The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reports that Portland Communications arranged undisclosed Wikipedia edits between 2016 and 2024, including through a subcontractor known as Web3 Consulting.
- Investigators say edits targeted Qatar-related pages before the 2022 World Cup to bury critical reporting and soften coverage of the country’s human rights record.
- The probe links a network of accounts to Web3, describes their eventual ban from Wikipedia, and details how earlier exposure led Portland to rely on middlemen.
- Portland denies the allegations and any relationship with Web3, asserting strict adherence to platform guidelines.
- Coverage notes no evidence that founder Tim Allan was involved, with records showing he sold most shares in 2012 and left the firm in 2019.