Story perspectives

Wikipedia Bans Co-Founder Larry Sanger Over Diversity Canvassing

6/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Wikipedia editors barred Larry Sanger (co-founder of Wikipedia) for violating canvassing rules while promoting a diversity proposal.
The ban resulted from a consensus decision by Wikimedia editors that prohibited Sanger from editing the site.
Sanger announced the WikiProject Intellectual Diversity to his 93,000 followers on X, which editors deemed a canvassing violation.
Sanger responded on X, claiming the ban lacked due process and a neutral adjudication.

History

Historical Context

In May 2005 an unregistered user posted a hoax biography of journalist John Seigenthaler, falsely linking him to the Kennedy assassinations. The four-month exposure sparked media criticism, led Jimmy Wales and the Wikimedia Foundation to restrict article creation and add stricter “biographies of living persons” policies overseen by the Arbitration Committee. Those same rules now underpin the decision to bar co-founder Larry Sanger from editing.

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Story summary

Wikipedia editors barred Larry Sanger (co-founder of Wikipedia) for violating canvassing rules while promoting a diversity proposal.
The ban resulted from a consensus decision by Wikimedia editors that prohibited Sanger from editing the site.
Sanger announced the WikiProject Intellectual Diversity to his 93,000 followers on X, which editors deemed a canvassing violation.
Sanger responded on X, claiming the ban lacked due process and a neutral adjudication.

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