'Bad Faith Editors' at Wikipedia Pushed Anti-Israel Bias for Years: Report

Tel Aviv: A new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has raised serious concerns about Wikipedia’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ADL claims that a group of more than 30 Wikipedia editors, whom they called ‘Bad Faith Editors’, has been deliberately altering pages to promote an anti-Israel narrative while downplaying or erasing details about Hamas’ violence.  

“Despite Wikipedia’s efforts to ensure neutrality and impartiality, malicious editors frequently introduce biased or misleading information, which persists across hundreds if not more entries,” the report said. 

Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia, is edited by volunteers. While the platform claims to be neutral, the ADL report suggests otherwise. It states that certain editors have been working together for years to manipulate information in favor of Hamas and against Israel.  

The report highlights several points:  

• A reference to a Palestinian in Gaza launching an incendiary balloon with a swastika on it was removed from Hamas-related pages.  
• Edits on Wikipedia’s Zionism page since 2022 have tried to change how Israel’s founding is portrayed.  
• Reports of sexual violence by Hamas were deleted.  
• References to terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas were systematically removed from multiple pages.  

According to the ADL, this is not random editing but a planned effort to influence how people see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  

Following the allegations, a spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that runs Wikipedia, responded to NY Post by saying, “The values of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation reflect our commitment to integrity and accuracy, and we categorically condemn antisemitism and all forms of hate.”  

While Wikipedia insists on neutrality, the ADL report suggests that biased editing has been happening for years.  

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Past Clashes Between Wikipedia and ADL

This is not the first time Wikipedia and the ADL have been at odds. Last year, a group of Wikipedia editors labeled the ADL as an "unreliable source of information" regarding the Israel-Gaza war. This led to heated debates between Wikipedia editors and human rights groups in the U.S.  

In January, Wikipedia’s arbitration board took disciplinary action against six editors who were accused of trying to intimidate others into making certain edits. These editors were banned from editing specific topics related to Israel and Hamas.  

Despite these actions, the ADL claims that biased editing has only increased, especially after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The report alleges that rogue editors are intentionally deleting references to antisemitism while altering Hamas-related pages to minimize their violent actions.

Who Are Editors at Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is run by an army of volunteer editors, many of whom spend years learning its complex rules. The idea is to keep information fair and accurate.

While Wikipedia claims to be neutral, the ADL report raises serious concerns about whether readers are getting the full picture when it comes to topics like Hamas, Israel, and Zionism.