Billionaire Elon Musk has urged the public to stop donating to Wikipedia, claiming it is “controlled by far-left activists.”
In a recent post on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk cited a report from Pirate Wires. This report alleges a coordinated effort by about 40 Wikipedia editors to skew perspectives on international issues, including delegitimizing Israel and favourably presenting radical Islamist groups.
The report also suggests these editors have mainstreamed fringe academic views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly intensifying their efforts after the October 7 attack.
Musk, a vocal supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump and a Republican presidential candidate reiterated that Wikipedia’s narrative is manipulated by far-left activists, advising against financial contributions to the platform. This statement marks another instance in Musk’s ongoing criticism of Wikipedia for hosting what he perceives as biased narratives.
Furthermore, Pirate Wires’ report highlighted actions by Wikipedia editors after October 7, such as removing references to Hamas’ 1988 charter, which advocates for violence, from the Hamas Wikipedia entry. It also noted attempts to erase documented human rights abuses by officials of the Islamic Republic Party.
In related news, Wikipedia has faced accusations in India of narrative manipulation by ‘super editors’ senior users who can lock topics, preventing further edits. Last month, Asian News International (ANI) sued Wikipedia’s parent foundation for USD 237,800 over alleged defamatory edits, leading to a contempt notice issued by the Delhi High Court due to Wikipedia withholding information.
The court has also expressed concerns about Wikipedia’s model of allowing public edits, highlighting the potential risks of such a platform. Moreover, Wikipedia has become contentious in debates over the Manipur crisis, with accusations that far-left editors disproportionately influence content guided by their sources and interests.
