This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
County IP Address Found Spending Time on Blogs & Editing Wikipedia
The bloggers who helped bring the taco truck ban in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles to national headlines have done some sleuthing with a particular commenter's IP address (it's like a digital fingerprint) who left comments bashing the cause to save the savory street food. When they compared the address left on their website to the address listed on Wikipedia page edits about the County, it was the same.
What they found was that someone or a group of people working at the County of Los Angeles under the IP address 159.83.252.234 have been spending time editing Wikipedia entries for Gloria Molina (wiping out any sections about the taco truck or mural controversy), Mike Antonovich, Don Knabe and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors article.
The history of the County IP address on Wikipedia shows that employees have made over 500 edits to articles ranging from county related matters to video games.
A search of LAist's comments found that at least one frequent commenter posts from the same IP address. However, at large buildings, the IP address can be the same for every computer accessing the internet in the building. For example, comments from the Los Angeles City Hall IP show various people from different departments chiming in on posts. The same could go for the County of Los Angeles where employees from the respective offices could be editing and protecting their boss' reputation.
Photo by renatotarga via Flickr
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
