In a first participant in a network—such as an ad hoc wireless network—a facility performs peer regulation of the network. The facility monitors behavior of a second participant in the network that has appointed itself a routing participant for the network. Among the monitored behavior, the facility identifies behavior of the second participant that is inconsistent with its routing participant status. In response to this identifying, the facility sends a message to participants of the network including a third participant indicating that the second participant is no longer a routing participant.