How Wikipedia Is Preparing For The 2020 U.S. Election
If the internet is the most important battleground in next week’s U.S. presidential election, then Wikipedia is the Web’s neutral zone. Last month, U.S. federal agencies issued a public service announcementwith a warning that bad actors could use the internet to spread disinformation in an effort to discredit the legitimacy of the voting process. As….
The World Health Organization and Wikimedia Foundation expand access to trusted information about COVID-19 on Wikipedia
Geneva, Switzerland, 22 October 2020 — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that administers Wikipedia, announced today a collaboration to expand the public’s access to the latest and most reliable information about COVID-19. The collaboration will make trusted, public health information available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license at a….
Celebrating the people who go above and beyond to build free knowledge: Meet our 2020 Wikimedian of the Year
When I first created Wikipedia back in 2001, the internet was a very different place. Only seven percent of people worldwide had a broadband connection, and more people spent time building personal websites than getting their news online. I knew what I wanted to create: a free encyclopedia, written by volunteers, for everyone in the….
Amazon donates $1 million gift to the Wikimedia Endowment to sustain free knowledge
For the third year in a row, Amazon has renewed its commitment to the Wikimedia Endowment, a permanent fund dedicated to ensuring the long-term future of Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. With this gift, Amazon reinforces the importance of ensuring people everywhere can create and share free knowledge. With millions of students….
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….
Wikimedia Foundation kicks-off fundraising campaign in India
Recently, the Wikimedia Foundation began a fundraising campaign on Wikipedia in India, inviting anyone who relies on Wikipedia to support its future. Banners are appearing on the English Wikipedia in India, asking readers to consider contributing with a donation. The banners have generated a lot of conversation online. We wanted to address some of the….
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….
We stand for racial justice.
George Floyd’s death last week at the hands of law enforcement in Minneapolis lays bare the tremendous inequalities and racism that black people face in the United States on a daily basis. In the past few weeks, his name, along with Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and David McAtee have joined a staggering register of victims….
Wikimedia Foundation Board announces Community Culture Statement, enacts new standards to address harassment and promote inclusivity across projects
Today, the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees voted to ratify new trust and safety standards for Wikipedia and all other Wikimedia projects. The standards, as outlined in a new Community Culture Statement, provide direction and priority to address harassment and incivility within the Wikimedia movement and create welcoming, inclusive, harassment-free spaces in which people can….
Amid COVID-19, Wikimedia Foundation offers full pay for reduced hours, mobilizes all staff to work remote, and waives sick time
Update: On March 14, 2020, the Wikimedia Foundation announced new measures to support employees and protect general public health amid COVID-19. As part of these operational actions, we have: Closed both Foundation offices in San Francisco and Washington, DC, until at least March 31, 2020. All staff are now working remotely. Shifted to a reduced….
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