Wikipedia:You can't fix Google through Wikipedia



Search results from the Google search engine often include their Knowledge Panel, a block of information on the topic presented by Google itself. This panel frequently includes a link to Wikipedia, leading people to believe that Wikipedia is the source of this information, and that any misinformation in the Google output can be corrected by correcting Wikipedia, or that Wikipedia is responsible. This is also true for Bing.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Search engines may use Wikipedia as a source for their information blurb, but it is not their only source, nor is it automatically updated when Wikipedia is updated. We've had people complaining to Wikipedia about Google and Bing descriptions of themselves that include a date of death, when the complainer is obviously still alive and Wikipedia has never claimed otherwise.

The good news is that Google does provide a way to correct misinformation. At the lower right of their information box, you'll find the word Feedback. Click on that, and you'll be able to note the error. Experience shows that it takes Google a few days to adjust the information. Bing also includes a similar Feedback link.

When in doubt, please check the relevant Wikipedia article to see if the information originated here, and report it to a noticeboard, or to OTRS. Otherwise, please report it to Google or Bing.

Editors who are faced with users asking for Wikipedia changes to correct Knowledge Graph displays can use the template HD/GKG to respond.