Richmond Federal Appeals Court and skyline

Federal Appeals Court Dismisses ACLU Challenge to NSA Internet Surveillance

NEW YORK — In a divided opinion, the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal brought by the Wikimedia Foundation, which challenges the National Security Agency’s mass interception and searching of Americans’ international internet communications. The American Civil Liberties Union, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, and the law firm Cooley LLP represent the Wikimedia Foundation….

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Wikipedia needs local journalism and the open Web

Over the past couple of months, many who are interested in internet policy have been watching developments in Australia, where a proposed Mandatory Bargaining Code will force some internet platforms to pay for linking to content by news publishers and displaying snippets thereof. While it isn’t entirely clear yet what services will be covered by….

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China blocks Wikimedia Foundation’s accreditation to World Intellectual Property Organization

China yesterday blocked the Wikimedia Foundation’s application for observer status at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations (UN) organization that develops international treaties on copyright, IP, trademarks, patents and related issues. As a result of the block, the Foundation’s application for observer status has been suspended and will be reconsidered at a….

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Hong Kong skyline - December 2007

New Chinese national security law in Hong Kong could limit the privacy of Wikipedia users

The Wikimedia Foundation is extremely concerned about the national security law recently passed in China and implemented in Hong Kong that prohibits a broad range of speech and grants wide-ranging surveillance powers to authorities. This law may have serious implications for protection of the privacy of users on Wikipedia and other projects operated by the….

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İki buçuk yıldan uzun zamanın ardından Türkiye’den Wikipedia’ya erişim açıldı

Bugün, Wikipedia’nın 19. doğum gününde, Wikimedia Vakfı Türkiye’den Wikipedia’ya erişimin yeniden açılmakta olduğuna ilişkin haberler aldı.* Bu son gelişme, Anayasa Mahkemesi’nin Türkiye yetkililerinin iki buçuk yıldan uzun süren engelini 26 Aralık 2019 kararı ile anayasaya aykırı bulmasının ardından gerçekleşti. Bugün erken saatlerde Anayasa Mahkemesi kararın tam metnini kamuya açık olarak paylaştı, hemen ardından Wikipedia’ya erişimin….

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Welcome back, Turkey!

Access to Wikipedia restored in Turkey after more than two and a half years

Today, on Wikipedia’s 19th birthday, the Wikimedia Foundation has received reports that access to Wikipedia in Turkey is actively being restored.* This latest development follows a 26 December 2019 ruling by the Constitutional Court of Turkey that the more than two and a half year block imposed by the Turkish government was unconstitutional. Earlier today,….

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Secretariat Building, New Delhi

India’s proposed intermediary liability rules could limit everyone’s access to information online

Honorable Minister Prasad: I am writing today on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation to express our concerns regarding the Ministry’s proposed changes to the intermediary liability rules and its negative impact on access to knowledge and participation for Indians online. The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit that hosts and operates Wikipedia, along with a number….

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Türkiye Anayasa Mahkemesi, Vikipedi’nin iki buçuk yıllık engelinin anayasaya aykırı olduğuna karar verdi

Anayasa Mahkemesi bugün, Türkiye’de iki buçuk yıldan fazladır süren Vikipedi’ye erişim engelinin anayasaya aykırı olduğuna hükmetti. Türkiye’nin en yüksek mahkemesinin aldığı bu yeni karar ışığında Türkiye’de erişimin yakında yeniden sağlanacağını ve engelin kalktığına dair güncel bilgi aldığımızda bu bildiriyi yeniden güncellemeyi umuyoruz. Bilgiye evrensel erişime verilen bu önemli onayı memnuniyetle karşılama hususunda Türk halkına, ve….

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Turkish Constitutional Court rules that the two and a half year block of Wikipedia is unconstitutional

Today, the Turkish Constitutional Court has held that the more than two and a half year access ban of Wikipedia in Turkey was unconstitutional. We hope that access will be restored in Turkey soon in the light of this new ruling from Turkey’s highest court and will update this statement if we receive notification that….

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Wikimedia Foundation Servers

Why the Wikimedia Foundation has not signed on to the Contract for the Web

In November 2019, Tim Berners-Lee and the Web Foundation launched the Contract for the Web, a set of rules designed to address the challenges facing digital communication and participation— from threats to online privacy and security to connectivity and digital inclusion.  The multi-stakeholder effort outlines nine principles for governments, companies and citizens designed to safeguard….

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