Question

What restrictions typically apply to editors who have a declared COI?

Accepted Answer

Editors who have declared a conflict of interest (COI) on Wikipedia are typically subject to restrictions aimed at preventing bias and maintaining neutrality. The most significant restriction is a strong discouragement from directly editing articles related to their COI. Instead, they are encouraged to propose changes or additions on the article&#x27;s talk page, allowing other, uninvolved editors to review and implement them. This helps ensure that the edits are neutral and based on reliable sources, rather than promoting a particular viewpoint. Editors with a COI should also avoid creating new articles about topics related to their COI, as this can be seen as self-promotion or advocacy. They should refrain from participating in discussions or votes related to their COI, as their involvement could be perceived as biased. In some cases, editors with a significant COI may be required to disclose their affiliation to the Arbitration Committee, Wikipedia&#x27;s highest dispute resolution body. The Arbitration Committee may impose additional restrictions on their editing activities to prevent disruption or bias. For example, an employee of a marketing firm who discloses their COI should not directly edit articles about their clients. Instead, they should suggest changes on the talk pages, providing reliable sources to support their proposals, and allow other editors to evaluate and implement the changes.

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What restrictions typically apply to editors who have a declared COI?