The Republic of Wikipedia

In this episode of Double Take, CMT Research Fellow Michael Davis speaks with internet entrepreneur Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia.

Wikipedia is first and foremost an encyclopedia. It differs from social platforms in that its business model does not depend on advertisers, which means it doesn't need provocative commentary to attract eyeballs. Jimmy likens Wikipedia to a republic that honours the internet’s early libertarian credentials, where other platforms hide behind them.

So, is it possible to extrapolate some of the principles that govern Wikipedia to social platforms? To answer that question, we need to ask whether in the first instance it’s even possible to have a social platform that prioritises content based on quality and author expertise, while balancing engagement.

But challenges faced by Wikipedia today might be considered existential – its ability to survive on donations, for example, might be compromised in the age of genAI as users increasingly use zero-click search to access information. The use of free and open knowledge on the internet to train AI systems has got commercial media entering into deals and licensing agreements – but what can Wikipedia do to protect its data? And what are the consequences of Wikipedia being designated as a very large platform under the EU’s Digital Services Act?

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