Deconstructing Wikipedia: It's biased, lopsided and partisan

In the digital age, Wikipedia has emerged as one of the most frequently accessed sources of information globally, with over 1.5 billion monthly visitors relying on its content for knowledge across countless topics. The platform's founding principle of neutrality and openness has created an illusion of democratic knowledge production. However, growing evidence suggests that Wikipedia suffers from systemic biases that disproportionately affect content related to India, Hindu traditions, and policies promoted by right-wing parties. These biases manifest in ways that marginalize Indian perspectives, distort religious representations, and frame political discourse through a specific ideological lens.

- BRIJESH SINGH

This article examines the structural vulnerabilities within Wikipedia that enable these biases, documents specific instances where content appears skewed, and analyzes how these patterns affect public understanding of Indian culture and politics. Through a comprehensive review of academic research, leaked internal documents, and specific article analyses, this inquiry reveals how Wikipedia's open-edit model creates opportunities for ideological manipulation that undermine its claims to neutrality.

STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITIES FUELLING BIAS
* Volunteer-Driven Model Creates Ideological Skew: Wikipedia's reliance on a volunteer editor base creates inherent vulnerabilities to ideological bias. Research indicates that approximately 84% of Wikipedia editors identify as male, and 70% come from Western countries, creating demographic imbalances that affect content creation and moderation. This demographic skew becomes particularly problematic when editors from Western backgrounds attempt to cover non-Western topics like Hinduism or Indian politics, often through the lens of their own cultural frameworks rather than local perspectives.

Studies have shown that editors with progressive Western perspectives often dominate debates about culturally sensitive topics. For example, discussions about Hindu religious practices frequently center around Western feminist or secular critiques rather than incorporating viewpoints from Hindu practitioners themselves. This creates a situation where content about Hinduism may emphasize aspects like caste systems or gender inequalities while minimizing its philosophical depth or cultural significance to Indian society.