ADL Criticizes Wikipedia for Retaining Biased Content

Over a year after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) exposed a group of over 30 Wikipedia editors allegedly adding anti-Israel content and antisemitic narratives, the issue persists. The ADL has expressed disappointment with Wikipedia’s lack of action in addressing these biases.

We had expected that these editors would be removed. We had expected that their edits would have been reversed. We expected that new policies would have been implemented. Almost nothing has changed, said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

Issues Highlighted by the ADL

In its 2025 report, Editing for Hate, the ADL cited a manipulative campaign affecting Wikipedia’s content on Israel, Palestine, and related topics. The organization noted pro-Hamas perspectives in Arabic-language entries. According to the ADL, the group’s editing activity was notably higher than similar groups’.

Following the investigation, some editors faced bans, but not all flagged issues were resolved. The ADL’s subsequent 2026 report, Damage Done, revealed that banned editors’ revisions remained largely unreviewed and unchanged. A review of seven key articles found 91% of a specific banned editor’s contributions intact.

Case Study: Iskandar323

One account, Iskandar323, highlighted the ongoing issue. Despite a topic ban, the account continued editing articles related to Israel and Palestine, particularly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The ADL recorded 485 edits by Iskandar323 across six prominent articles, including Hamas, Gaza war, and Zionism.

Wikipedia’s Arbitration Committee did give a site ban to the account for disruptive behavior. However, edits that altered critical content about Hamas were not rectified, shifting detailed information to less-visible pages.

Broader Implications and Recommendations

The ADL emphasizes that biased Wikipedia content impacts the broader online ecosystem due to its influence on search results and AI data models. Greenblatt warned that Wikipedia is losing trust as a source of unbiased information.

To address these issues, the ADL provided several recommendations. For the Wikimedia Foundation, it suggested verifying editors’ identities on sensitive topics and stopping anonymous edits. For search engines and AI developers, the ADL called for transparency when using Wikipedia. It also advised policymakers to hold oversight hearings on identified biases.

The ADL stressed the importance of the press and public recognizing Wikipedia’s potential influence on AI-generated responses and verifying these sources.