Plot

After viewing this provocative documentary, you will never look at Wikipedia the same way. Filmmakers Scott Glosserman and Nic Hill engagingly explore the history and cultural implications of one of the most traveled and referenced sites on the Internet. A whole range of opinion is expressed about the impact of Wikipedia on the archiving of learning, from interviews with founder Jimmy Wales to commentators suspicious of the site's supposed neutrality. The documentary delves into the EssJay controversy in which a Wikipedian made false claims about his academic credentials and the battle over journalist John Seigenthaler's inaccurate entry. Evenhandedly weaving multiple perspectives about the impact of Wikipedia, the film provokes a deeper conversation on how knowledge is formed and what future generations will learn about history and the world.—The Paley Center For Media

Truth in Number? is a 2010 American documentary film. In a series of interviews, it documents the history of Wikipedia, the online and editable encyclopedia. The process by which Wikipedia articles is described in an entertaining way, and the filmmakers discover various levels of seniority and bureaucracy involving what was in 2010, the eighth most frequently visited website on the Internet.

The film then considers whether anyone should be able to add or remove content from an encyclopedia, or whether it would be better if subject matter experts were in charge. This question is addressed through narrative accounts from people directly involved in Wikipedia and the 'open knowledge movement'. Larry Sanger, the co-founder of Wikipedia who left the project, feels it needs more expert participation. Cade Metz of The Register expresses concern that biased or incorrect information could inadvertently or deliberately used to spread misinformation or shape opinions of readers. Several Wikipedia editors echo this sentiment, disclosing that sometimes their work was altered by governments and corporations. The filmmakers interview a range of people about their thoughts and opinions of Wikipedia as an enterprise.

There is also disclosure of past incidents that occurred due to Wikipedia's open nature, e.g. false information was added to a well-known historian's biography. A highly trusted Wikipedia contributor claimed to be a professor at a prestigious university, using that to gain influence; later it was determined that he was not truthful about his identity and credentials.

The film premiered at the annual Wikipedia convention of editors and staff, in Gdansk, which was site of Wikimania 2010. Jimmy Wales was present, and his responses to questions and corrections from attendees adds further depth and context.