ADL Criticizes Wikipedia for Failing to Address Bias in Israel-Related Content

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has voiced concerns over Wikipedia’s handling of biased content. Over a year ago, the ADL identified a group of at least 30 editors allegedly adding anti-Israel bias and antisemitic narratives to the platform. Despite expectations for change, the ADL reports that much of the problematic content remains unchecked.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt expressed disappointment, stating that the organization anticipated removal of these editors and reversal of their edits. He mentioned that the implementation of new policies was expected, yet significant action has not been taken. The ADL’s 2025 report, ‘Editing for Hate,’ highlighted a coordinated effort to manipulate content concerning Israel and Palestine, noting the influence of pro-Hamas perspectives in Arabic-language entries.

Some editors received bans following the report. However, according to the ADL’s 2026 follow-up report titled ‘Damage Done: Wikipedia Leaves Biased Edits Unchecked Despite Editor Bans,’ no systematic review of banned editors’ contributions occurred. Upon examining seven ‘flagship pages’, the report found 91% of edits by banned editors still active.

A topic ban is ineffective without enforcement, Greenblatt argues, likening it to leaving graffiti on public buildings even after apprehending the culprit. He questioned Wikipedia’s practice of failing to thoroughly address unacceptable content.

An account named Iskandar323, featured in the ADL’s 2025 report, exemplifies this issue. The account had a history of biased editing that increased after Hamas’ October 7th attacks in Israel. Between those attacks and later in October 2023, Iskandar323 made 485 edits, 225 of which occurred post-attack. The updated pages included ‘Israel,’ ‘Gaza war,’ and others among Wikipedia’s top-trafficked entries.

Wikipedia’s Arbitration Committee (ArbCom) reviewed Iskandar323’s behavior, ultimately issuing a site ban for non-neutral editing. Yet, the ADL found that important information was moved to less visible pages, leaving those visiting the ‘Hamas’ page uninformed unless they searched further.

In November 2023, the account removed substantial text and citations from the ‘Gaza war’ entry, including forensic evidence of violence from the October 7th attacks. Efforts to sanitize these events were criticized by Greenblatt as attempts to alter the narrative around Jewish state-related incidents.

The ADL emphasized that biased edits on Wikipedia pose broader consequences due to the platform’s influence in search engines and online ecosystems. The organization called on Wikipedia to regain public trust by addressing biases, especially as many large language models rely on site content.

Congressional scrutiny and Wikipedia’s enforcement post-2025 report led to reduced coordination among the editors. However, the ADL noted that manipulation continues quietly. A 2026 review uncovered 19 active accounts still editing Israeli-Palestinian conflict topics, with eight from the original 30 avoiding sanctions through subtle methods.

The ADL provided recommendations for the Wikimedia Foundation and other stakeholders. It urged increased accountability on sensitive pages, private verification of editors, and a task force to address antisemitic bias akin to prior efforts against Holocaust revisionism.

Search engines and AI developers were encouraged to highlight their reliance on Wikipedia for sensitive topics, employing editorial caveats and developing bias detection standards. Policymakers were asked to conduct oversight hearings and monitor manipulation with input from diverse sectors.

Additionally, the ADL flagged the media and public to be aware that AI-driven content might use Wikipedia’s framing, advising verification of AI-generated citations and quotes.

Fox News Digital contacted the Wikimedia Foundation for comments, yet a response was pending. The ADL’s findings underscore an ongoing challenge in maintaining Wikipedia as a reliable source of unbiased information.