I think people want a better explanation then what we've seen so far. Vandalizing wikipedia for teh lawlz is one thing, vandalizing OSM with potentially dangerous things like switching one way streets is another kettle of fish. Especially when your employer (err employer's employer) runs a well known competitor.
I'm saying the writer at Verge should not have used the word "sacked" because it does not accurately describe the situation.
And the term "sacked" can certainly be used to apply to service providers / contractors:
http://www.governoruduaghan.org/infocus_listing.php?head=3&#... http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-18/delhi... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3741846/BBC-sa...
(Once we had someone tag the whole of Ireland as a glacier because there was a lot of ice (probably for the laugh))
This actually pertains to a discussion I had with a friend, who recently informed me that he found out that doctors not only look things up on the Internet like the rest of us, they sometimes even use Wikipedia. So you could cause some serious damage there as well. Granted, if the doctors would STOP DOING THAT it wouldn't be an issue.