Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger says he has been permanently blocked from editing the online encyclopedia after launching an initiative aimed at increasing ideological diversity among contributors.
Sanger, who helped launch Wikipedia in 2001 and authored many of its original policies, told the New York Post he was "flabbergasted" by the decision, which followed the creation of WikiProject Intellectual Diversity, a group intended to reinforce what he described as Wikipedia's "original, firm commitment to intellectual diversity."
The indefinite block, imposed by Wikipedia editors, is the platform's most severe disciplinary action. Sanger said the move reflects deeper governance problems within the site.
"There is no due process," Sanger told the Post. "People are being blocked, in other words, disciplined, and yet there is no respect for certain expectations that any other serious disciplinary procedure would be held to."
He compared Wikipedia's disciplinary system to judgment by a "faceless mob" and described the editor community as a "mob or a blob" that prioritizes consensus among insiders over formal rules.
The exact reason for the block was not publicly specified.
Editors reportedly cited concerns that Sanger's efforts to recruit participants for his intellectual diversity project amounted to "canvassing," a practice that Wikipedia restricts when intended to influence editorial discussions.
Sanger rejected that characterization, saying: "The people who found fault with that pointed to the fact that I was recruiting for a project that, in their opinion, is aligned with the radical right wing, which is absolutely absurd."
The dispute comes amid long-running criticism from Sanger that Wikipedia has drifted from political neutrality and is controlled by a small group of influential administrators.
He has argued that a relatively small number of largely anonymous editors wield disproportionate influence over content and policy decisions.
Sanger recently returned to active participation on the site after years away, publishing a series of essays last year calling for sweeping reforms and warning that Wikipedia had been captured by what he termed a "Globalist, Academic, Secular, and Progressive" worldview.
Despite receiving support from fellow co-founder Jimmy Wales, Sanger said he expects the ban to remain in place.
"It's so interesting that Jimmy has come out and defended me," Sanger told the Post.
"But I have a feeling he's going to be very unsuccessful and that I am going to be permanently banned. I don't think it's ultimately going to make any difference."