Wikipedia Opens Up with First Transparency Report
Wikipedia is one of the most widely used websites in the world, but the community that drives it is less well known, from volunteer editors to the Wikimedia Foundation itself. In an effort to shed some light on what goes on behind the scenes, the Wikimedia Foundation has issued its First Annual Transparency Report. Wikimedia, the organization that operates Wikipedia, is dedicated to protecting its users’ privacy and Wikipedia content from censorship. This report helps demonstrate that Wikimedia is staying true to their word and working hard to protect free speech and provide free access to information worldwide. Some of the highlights from the report include:
Out of 56 requests for user data, Wikimedia only granted 8—and those were due to subpoenas in U.S. civil and criminal cases.
None of 304 requests for Content Alteration and Takedown were granted. Notable requests were to remove a monkey selfie, and another to remove an entire aboriginal language from the site.
41% of DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) Takedown Requests were granted. Copyright infringement does happen and Wikimedia says it will carefully evaluate each takedown request to determine the validity of the complaint. Photographer David Katz had his popular photograph of Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama removed due to successfully making the case of infringement.
Here at Beutler Ink, our own Wikipedia relations standards are all about transparency and keeping the lines of communication open between Wikipedia editors and our clients. We are excited about sharing Wikimedia's Transparency Report, and hope that it will convey not only the character of the Wikipedia community but also the importance of the work that Wikimedia and the volunteer editors are doing for sharing freely available, accurate information around the globe.
