A recent investigation by The New York Post highlights concerns about potential bias and manipulation on Wikipedia, the widely-used online encyclopedia. The report alleges that a small group of editors are actively working to shape the public image of politicians and suppress information from news sources that don't align with their worldview.

Allegations of Political Interference

The investigation focuses on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji. According to the report, Wikipedia editors are editing out scandals and controversies from their entries, presenting a more favorable portrayal than might otherwise be available. This includes downplaying or reframing potentially damaging information.

Controversial Social Media Activity

The report details instances where Duwaji liked posts containing problematic content, including claims that mass rapes committed by Hamas during their October 7th attacks were “fabrications.” Additionally, old social media posts revealed the use of offensive language. However, the Wikipedia entries reportedly present this information in a softened or incomplete manner, framing the posts as simply “supportive of the Palestinian cause.”

The Role of Editor IvanScrooge98

The investigation identifies a specific editor, IvanScrooge98, as being particularly active in shaping the narrative surrounding Duwaji. IvanScrooge98 reportedly attempted to remove information about Duwaji’s past social media activity, arguing that reporting from The New York Post was not “worthy of inclusion.”

Bias Against Conservative Sources

The report alleges a broader structural bias against conservative news sources on Wikipedia. Outlets like The New York Post, Fox News, Breitbart, and others are classified as “generally unreliable,” effectively limiting their use as sources. Conversely, left-leaning outlets like The Guardian and The Nation are given a “Generally reliable” rating.

Influence of State-Sponsored Media

The investigation also found a significant number of citations on Wikipedia using sources linked to Iranian state media and groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda. Over 20,000 citations used sources linked to the IRGC, and over 8,000 used sources linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Even Chinese state media receives a high ranking on the platform.

Impact on AI Systems

The report emphasizes the growing importance of Wikipedia as a training dataset for artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The editorial decisions made by Wikipedia editors, therefore, have the potential to shape how AI perceives and understands the world. The investigation suggests that this could lead to a skewed or biased representation of information in AI-driven applications.

The New York Post’s reporting raises questions about the neutrality and objectivity of Wikipedia, and the potential for manipulation of information on a platform that is increasingly relied upon for knowledge and understanding.