Interim DC legal professional Ed Martin has written a letter to the Wikimedia Basis — the group behind Wikipedia — that calls into query its standing as a nonprofit entity. In the letter, which was obtained by The Free Press, Martin claims he discovered that Wikipedia “is partaking in a collection of actions that might violate its obligations” below US legislation about tax-exempt organizations.
Beneath the legislation (Part 501(c)(3) of Title 26), tax-exempt organizations should function “solely for non secular, charitable, scientific, testing for public security, literary, or instructional functions.” Martin alleges that Wikipedia is “permitting overseas actors to govern data and unfold propaganda,” together with by “rewriting” historic occasions and thru “different issues implicating the nationwide safety and the pursuits of america.”
Martin asks the Wikimedia Basis to reply to a number of questions, equivalent to what it’s doing to “safeguard” the general public from propaganda, in addition to efforts to exclude “overseas affect operatives from making focused edits” on subjects that will “reshape or rewrite historical past.” He’s giving the Basis till Could fifteenth to reply.
“Wikipedia’s content material is ruled by three core content material insurance policies: impartial standpoint, verifiability, and no authentic analysis, which exist to make sure data is introduced as precisely, pretty, and neutrally as doable,” Jacob Rogers, the Wikimedia Basis’s affiliate common counsel, mentioned in an emailed assertion to The Verge. “Your complete technique of content material moderation is overseen by practically 260,000 volunteers and is open and clear for all to see, which is why we welcome alternatives to clarify how Wikipedia works and can accomplish that within the applicable discussion board.”
Martin’s letter displays a broader development of the appropriate concentrating on Wikipedia. Final 12 months, Elon Musk informed supporters to “cease donating to Wokepedia” earlier than later calling the positioning “an extension of legacy media propaganda.” In January, a report from Ahead.com discovered that The Heritage Basis, the right-wing suppose tank behind Undertaking 2025, created a presentation with a collection of slides geared towards “concentrating on” Wikipedia editors.
The Wikimedia Basis has since created instruments to guard the identities of editors, with CEO Maryana Iskander telling the neighborhood that it’s “seeing a rise in threats, each regulation and litigation the world over,” as reported by 404 Media.