We protect users’ privacy and speech. We educate governments and policymakers about the importance of the free and open internet. Regardless of location or circumstance, everyone has the right to seek and share knowledge.
Protecting the right to speak and learn freely
We shape public policy that opens access to free online knowledge around the globe. Government imposed censorship and overzealous copyright laws should not stand in the way of international knowledge-sharing.
Defending free expression
Last year we received 684 takedown requests and granted zero. Governments and individuals often ask us to change project content or share information about our users. We push back when these requests could harm users’ rights. We tell you about these requests in our Transparency Report.
Standing up for our users
We help contributors respond to legal threats relating to their work on Wikimedia projects. We have joined legal efforts like the opposition to the 2017 US travel ban. We are suing the United States National Security Agency, challenging their mass surveillance of Wikimedia users and contributors.
Supporting community voices
Volunteer contributors take the lead on editorial decisions. Our public policy efforts and research initiatives focus on maintaining the legal protections that make that possible.
Speak up for free knowledge and access
Just 27% of internet users in Nigeria had heard of Wikipedia in 2016. Today, that number is up to 48%. Our organization is committed to increasing awareness of Wikipedia outside of North America and Europe, in order to expand global knowledge participation.
5 million
new articles in 2017
Connect — Verbindung
Stay up-to-date about our advocacy efforts
Get email updates
Subscribe to news about ongoing projects and initiatives.
Contact our public policy team
Questions about the Wikimedia Foundation's public policy efforts? Get in touch with our public policy team.
Follow
ELSEWHERE IN WIKIMEDIA — EN OTRO LUGAR DE WIKIMEDIA
More about Wikimedia advocacy
Our policy site
Policies on access to knowledge, censorship, copyright, intermediary liability, and privacy directly affect the vibrancy of Wikimedia projects.
Help us unlock the world’s knowledge.
As a nonprofit, Wikipedia and our related free knowledge projects are powered primarily through donations.
Photo credits
![Wikimedia Foundation SOPA meeting](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Wikimedia_Foundation_SOPA_War_Room_Meeting_1-17-2012-1-9-e1533254929224.jpg?w=250&h=250&crop=1)
![Cover of Wikimedia Foundation transparency report](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Transparency_Report_1-e1565971921744.jpg?w=250&h=250&crop=1)
![Frankfurt on the Main](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Frankfurt_Am_Main-Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen-Detail-Justitia_von_Nordwesten-20110411.jpg?w=250&h=250&crop=1)
![Volunteers at Wikimedia Conference 2017](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Felix_Satdeep_Stalinjeet_and_Manavpreet_at_Wikimedia_Conference_2017-e1565971930307.jpg?w=250&h=250&crop=1)
Felix, Satdeep, Stalinjeet and Manavpreet at Wikimedia Conference 2017
Jason Krüger for Wikimedia Deutschland e.V.
![Wikipedia promotional video](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/supertodada_video_excerpt-e1565971784965.png?w=250&h=250&crop=1)
Wikipedia promotional video - Superdotada
Wikimedia Mexico, ISLA, NatalyPop, and the Wikimedia Foundation
![Lighting through the ages](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fact-bg-e1533255087393.jpg?w=250&h=250&crop=1)
![Hong Kong skyline - December 2007](https://web.archive.org./web/20210301012948im_/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hong_Kong_Skyline_Restitch_-_Dec_2007.jpg?w=250&h=250&crop=1)