Wikipedia:2024 open letter to the Wikimedia Foundation

Context and background information regarding this letter may be found in this Signpost article and this BBC article, as well as in discussions on this project page.

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The English Wikipedia community has been following recent events in the Asian News International vs. Wikimedia Foundation legal case with trepidation. In a world where many players would like to control the content of Wikipedia articles, we consider that protecting editor anonymity is essential to maintaining an encyclopedia that is comprehensive, reliable and neutral. Our millions of volunteer contributors look to the Foundation to defend them against powerful external entities as they go about their work, sifting and balancing what the existing published sources write about the topic.

In the light of this, we, the undersigned, are profoundly concerned at the suggestion that the Foundation is considering disclosing identifying private information about volunteer editors to the Delhi High Court. We appreciate the complexities of international legal disputes over release of such information, and commend the Foundation for routinely resisting disclosure and for assisting editors who find themselves in legal jeopardy. Nevertheless, we call upon the Foundation to prioritize the safety and well being of volunteers, even if it comes with a risk of legal action against the Foundation, or other costs. Any other action risks having a chilling effect on the work of volunteers across the project, and only makes it more likely that such pressure will be exerted in future. In short, it jeopardizes the future of our shared project.

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Signatures

CLOSED

On 16 December 2024, subscriber information of the editors was disclosed to the Delhi High Court under a sealed cover. As the main purpose of this letter was in protest against this, it has now been closed to further signatures. Please see the talk page for further discussion. --Grnrchst (talk) 09:57, 17 December 2024 (UTC)reply

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Notes

^ If "Knowledge is Human", You Must Protect the Humans Who Make It
^ protect the contributors
^ Reddit clarifies why beggars CAN'T be choosers. On the other hand, Wikipedia clarifies why editors CAN be choosers!!!
^ even I know, that the WMF gives a shit for our sorrows, fears and opinions - they do everything, as long they can collect money
^ Hey, maybe don't save that stuff?
^ Streisand triggered: German-WP version Asian News International now created
^ Conditionally, per Techdirt.
^ If the lawsuit result is unfavorable, delete the data from Wikipedia's servers or fully block access to the affected region. Delete Wikipedia itself if necessary.

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[1] If "Knowledge is Human", You Must Protect the Humans Who Make It

[2] rotect the contributors

[3] Reddit clarifies why beggars CAN'T be choosers. On the other hand, Wikipedia clarifies why editors CAN be choosers!!!

[4] ven I know, that the WMF gives a shit for our sorrows, fears and opinions - they do everything, as long they can collect money

[5] Hey, maybe don't save that stuff?

[6] Streisand triggered: German-WP version Asian News International now created

[7] Conditionally, per Techdirt.

[8] If the lawsuit result is unfavorable, delete the data from Wikipedia's servers or fully block access to the affected region. Delete Wikipedia itself if necessary.

[a]

[b]

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[d]

[e]

[f]

[g]

[h]