US Congress launches probe into Wikipedia over “anti-Israel” content

The US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has launched an investigation into potential foreign state influence on Wikipedia’s editing practices, with a focus on articles related to Israel.

Committee Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Chair Nancy Mace disclosed the probe in a letter sent last week to Wikimedia Foundation CEO Maryana Iskander. The inquiry forms part of a wider congressional effort to examine how foreign actors may be shaping US public opinion through academic institutions and digital platforms.

The letter cites alleged systematic attempts to inject “antisemitic and anti-Israel” bias into Wikipedia entries and warns that hostile state actors may be manipulating both Wikipedia and other online sources used to train artificial intelligence systems, exposing Western audiences to “pro-Kremlin and anti-Western” narratives.

Lawmakers requested detailed records covering January 2023 to the present, with a submission deadline of September 10, 2025. Their demands include documentation of suspected coordination by nation-state actors in editing activity, evidence of collaboration within academic institutions to influence content, and files from Wikipedia’s Arbitration Committee (ArbCom) related to editor disputes. They also requested identifying information on sanctioned editors, including names, IP addresses, registration data, and activity logs.

Additionally, Comer and Mace asked the foundation to provide analyses of manipulation or bias concerning antisemitism and conflicts involving Israel. The Wikimedia Foundation, while not directly writing articles, oversees volunteer editors and is responsible for addressing threats and malicious interference.

The congressional action follows growing criticism of Wikipedia from pro-Israel organizations and media. The Jerusalem Post has reported on controversial edits, including claims in October 2024 that the platform’s “Zionism” page was altered by an editor with “strongly anti-Zionist views.” In August 2025, the paper also highlighted a Wikimedia Foundation board candidate accused of promoting Hamas-linked imagery and disputing accounts of sexual violence during the October 7, 2023, attacks.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has also fueled concerns. In a March report, the ADL identified at least 30 editors who it said coordinated to introduce “antisemitic and anti-Israel” content, noting they were significantly more active than peers and often worked together to preserve edits critical of Israel while downplaying Palestinian violence. The report said such activities intensified after Hamas’ October 7 offensive, including the removal of cited sources and coordinated voting to protect contested edits.