Wikimedia Foundation

Aktivs

As of March 2015, Wikimedia Foundation assets include:

• Mediawiki.org,
• Wikibooks.org,
• Wikidata.org,
• Wikimedia.org,
• Wikimediafoundation.org,
• Wikinews.org,
• Wikipedia.org,
• Wikiquote.org,
• Wikisource.org,
• Wikiversity.org,
• Wikivoyage.org,
• Wiktionary.org

Internet audience

2018: Top 20 internet giants by size of internet audience

Internet companies by audience size

Financing

The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit organization, and voluntary donations are its only source of income.

2010

In January 2011, the Wikimedia Foundation announced that according to the results of the 2010 campaign, it managed to attract the planned amount of donations - $16 million. This amount is twice the amount of support that users provided to online encyclopedias in 2009, when its management set out to raise $8 million.

In 2010, Wikimedia received about 500 thousand donations, not counting 130 thousand sent to its local branches, and the average contribution was about $22.

2011

• The Wikimedia Foundation in January 2012 announced that it had raised $20 million in donations from more than a million users around the world during the annual campaign.

The collected funds will be used to purchase equipment for the resource, pay for legal support for the project, develop the mobile version of Wikipedia and other needs of the encyclopedia. The amount of planned expenses for the project in 2011-12 is $28.3 million. According to representatives of the project, the remaining part of the funds will be received within a year in the form of grants^[1]

• In October 2011, Wikimedia announced that it had received the largest grant in the organization's history, amounting to $3.6 million. Grant received from the American Stanton Foundation. This is not the first grant from the Stanton Foundation: in 2010, Wikipedia was transferred $1.2 million, and in 2008 - $890 thousand. The money was allocated to improve the technological infrastructure that ensures the functioning of Wikipedia and related projects. In particular, the server infrastructure will be optimized and restructured to ensure uninterrupted service with increasing workload due to the constantly growing number of visitors. Wikipedia currently serves more than 422 million unique requests per month, making the project the fifth most visited site in the world.

Part of the amount will be spent on creating a new visual editing interface that will allow people to edit encyclopedia content without learning Wiki markup. In addition, other changes will be made to the interface to simplify work with the encyclopedia of new editors, as well as to improve the means for editing and viewing the contents of the encyclopedia on mobile devices.

2012

In March 2012, it became known that the Wikimedia Foundation accepted a donation from the founder of the Russian social network Vkontakte Pavel Durov, said Vladislav Tsyplukhin, head of the resource's press service. Durov promised to donate $1 million to the development of Wikipedia in a live conference with the participation of the leadership of the encyclopedia in January 2012. He explained his desire to support the encyclopedia financially by the fact that the Wikipedia project is very important for the Internet and is a global phenomenon. According to Tsyplukhin, the money has already been transferred and should be received by Wikimedia in the near future.

History

2024: Bailiffs did not find Wikimedia assets and closed cases on fines

The bailiffs did not find assets WhatsApp (the messenger belongs to Meta, which Russia is recognized as extremist, its activities are prohibited) and Wikimedia (develops the Internet encyclopedia "") and Wikipedia closed cases on fines totaling 20 million. rubles This is evidenced by the data of the bank of the Federal Bailiff Service () FSSP as of January 1, 2024.

Interfax drew attention to the termination of the case of compulsory collection of fines with Whatsapp and Wikimedia. It clarifies that the enforcement proceedings of March 17, 2023 on the recovery of 18 million rubles from Whatsapp and the enforcement proceedings of March 27, 2023 on the recovery of 2 million rubles from Wikimedia have been terminated.

The bailiffs did not find the assets of WhatsApp and Wikimedia and closed cases on fines of 20 million rubles

The publication of the publication notes that the cases were terminated with the wording "it is impossible to establish the location of the debtor, his property or information about the presence of funds and other valuables belonging to him."

WhatsApp was fined for refusing to remove prohibited content and violating the procedure for localizing data from Russian users. The Wikimedia Foundation has been repeatedly fined for refusing to delete information about hostilities in Ukraine. In 2023, Wikimedia was awarded 13 fines in the amount of 22.4 million rubles.

By the beginning of 2024, Russia has a law obliging social networks to independently identify and block illegal content within 24 hours. Such content includes materials containing obvious disrespect for society, state symbols, power and the Constitution, insulting human dignity, as well as calls for participation in unauthorized rallies.^[2]

2023

Fine for failing to remove extremist content

On April 6, 2023, the judicial district of the magistrate To Moscow in issued a decision to impose a fine on the Wikimedia Foundation, which is developing the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia"." The organization was found guilty of Part 2 of Art. 13.41 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation ("Failure by the owner of a website of information or an Internet page if the obligation to remove such information is provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation") and must pay a fine of 800 thousand. rubles

According to TASS, citing the case materials announced during the meeting, the reason for drawing up a protocol on an administrative offense was the audio and video recordings of one of the songs of the Russian cyberemocore group Psyche. This song is recognized as extremist and prohibited for distribution on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The reason for drawing up a protocol on an administrative offense on the Wikimedia Foundation was the audio and video recordings of one of the songs of the Russian cyberemocore group "Psyche"

In 2010, the Dorogomilovsky Court of Moscow banned the song "Psyche" and the video for it. Based on this, the FSB issued a demand to remove information about this song from Internet resources. However, Wikipedia did not delete the page dedicated to the ban of the song "Kill the Mena." In this regard, Roskomnadzor drew up a protocol against the Wikimedia Foundation on an administrative offense.

A representative of Wikimedia in court demanded to dismiss the case and not hold the company accountable. "A legal representative for Wikimedia has not been notified or even identified. In addition, according to the law, the case must be considered at the location of the person involved. It's the state of Florida. Our Code of Administrative Offenses does not apply there, "she said.

In addition, according to a representative of the owner of Wikipedia, the Prosecutor General's Office, and not the FSB, makes the requirement to remove the materials, according to the established practice. The court disagreed with these arguments.^[3]

Another fine - 2 million rubles - for refusing to remove articles on the special operation  of the Russian Federation in Ukraine

On February 28, 2023, a Moscow court issued another fine to the Wikimedia Foundation for refusing a company developing Wikipedia"," to remove inaccurate information about a military special operation RUSSIAN FEDERATION on. To Ukraine

The court decided to find guilty the Wikimedia Foundation under Part 2 of Art. 13.41 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation (non-deletion of prohibited information) and impose a penalty in the form of a fine of 2 million rubles, - quotes TASS the decision of Judge Timur Vakhrameev, which was announced in the hall of the world judicial district No. 422.

The court found Wikipedia guilty of failure to remove prohibited information

According to RIA Novosti, a fine was imposed for failing to remove articles from Wikipedia about two motorized rifle brigades of the Russian army and posting inaccurate information about the actions of the Russian army in Kharkov, Lisichansk and Mariupol during a special operation. In particular, we are talking about articles about the 74th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 138th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 92nd Missile Brigade.

It is reported that earlier Roskomnadzor sent notifications to the Wikimedia Foundation about the need to remove articles about these three brigades, as they contain information about their deployment and other information, the publication of which damages the defense capability of the Russian Federation. Roskomnadzor also demanded to remove articles on hostilities near Kharkov, Lisichansky and Mariupol, as it contains inaccurate information. However, these materials were not deleted, and a protocol on an administrative offense was drawn up against Wikimedia.

The official representative of Wikipedia, Alexander Ganzer, said in court that these articles were written on the basis of open sources and information from international organizations, including following meetings of the UN General Assembly, and therefore they cannot harm the interests of the Russian Federation. Based on this, the representative of the Internet encyclopedia demanded to dismiss the case.^[4]

2022

A fine of 2 million rubles for refusing to remove inaccurate information about a special operation in Ukraine

On November 1, 2022, it became known that the owner of Wikipedia would pay 2 million rubles for refusing to remove inaccurate information about a military special operation in Ukraine. The World Court of the Tagansky District of Moscow found Wikimedia Foundation guilty under Part 2 of Art. 13. 41 Administrative Code (non-removal of content prohibited in Russia).

The protocol was drawn up for failure to remove two articles from Wikipedia about a special operation in Ukraine. What kind of materials are in question is not specified. Earlier, Roskomnadzor said that the electronic encyclopedia "Wikipedia" will be brought to administrative responsibility for the failure to remove illegal information. According to Russian law, the owner of the site faces administrative liability in the form of a fine of up to 4 million rubles for failure to remove such illegal materials within the prescribed period.

The department recalled that earlier, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, they sent a notification to the Wikipedia administration demanding to remove inaccurate information about a special military operation.

From July 20, 2022, Roskomnadzor obliges search engines to indicate that the Wikimedia Foundation violates Russian law. This labeling should be maintained until the company removes the prohibited content.

On April 26, 2022, the court To Moscow fined the non-profit charity Wikimedia 3 million rubles for seven articles on Wikipedia with unreliable data reports of a special operation. RUSSIAN FEDERATION The day before, the president Russia Vladimir Putin called on the prosecutor's office to stop interference in the affairs of the Russian Federation from the outside and prevent the spread of fakes on the Internet.

In July 2022, it was also reported that information a trip to Crimea the new Foreign Minister Belgium Aji Lyabib was removed from Wikipedia.^[5]

Inclusion in the list of foreign persons for "landing"

On May 19, 2022, it became known that Roskomnadzor had included the Wikimedia Foundation in the list of foreign persons for "landing." Now, according to the law, the owner of Wikipedia must register his personal account on the regulator's website, post a complaint form on the website and open his representative office or branch on the territory of the Russian Federation.

An organization with a similar name (Wikimedia RU) has already been operating in Russia since 2008 - but formally has nothing to do with the American Wikimedia Foundation and can hardly be considered its branch.

Roskomnadzor ordered the owner of Wikipedia to open a representative office in Russia

Wikimedia Foundation will have to comply with the provisions of the law. In case of refusal, tough measures are provided - up to the complete blocking of Wikipedia.

Roskomnadzor stressed that by May 19, 2022, the organization had not yet fulfilled any of the requirements of the law.

Stanislav Kozlovsky, executive director of the Wikimedia ru non-profit partnership, told RBC that the fund had not received official notifications from Roskomnadzor. According to him, he sees no point in the decision of Roskomnadzor.

Wikipedia is not for profit, huge fines are imposed here. There is no point, in principle, special. That is, just for what? But so far the decision has not been made, that is, maybe it will be, maybe not, "he said.

At the same time, the Russian Wikipedia noted that due to the law on "landing," it could receive the status of a foreign agent. Kozlovsky recalled that the financing of the organization is carried out thanks to donations from users.

According to Sarkis Darbinyan, managing partner of DRC law firm, the law on "landing" can be used to block Wikipedia.

According to Kommersant, the audience of the Russian-language Wikipedia by April 2022 amounted to 9.86 million devices in the world. In March, users from Russia watched 789 million pages on all Wikipedia resources, including Wiktionary, Wikicitatnik and foreign-language sections.^[6]

Refusal to accept cryptocurrency for donations

On May 3, 2022, it became known that Wikimedia refused to accept cryptocurrency for donations.

According to the results of the vote, the fund canceled payment in digital currency.

In early 2022, Wikimedia filed a request to stop accepting cryptocurrencies. Users used arguments in favor of and against the use of cryptocurrencies:

• The owner of the electronic currency may be considered supporting the destruction of the environment, since cryptography is an environmental disaster;
• Proof of ownership of cryptocurrency (proof of stake, PoS) will solve environmental problems. In addition, cryptocurrency is safer for anonymous use.

According to the fund, in 2021, cryptocurrency amounted to only 0.08% of revenue totaling $130,000, 347 users used bitcoins to pay. A referendum was held among 400 users and as a result, 71% of the vote was in favor of banning the digital payment method.

In early May 2022, Wikimedia Foundation Promotion Director Lisa Seitz-Gruwell published the foundation's response.

The Wikimedia Foundation has decided to stop directly accepting cryptocurrency as a means of donation, the document says.

We have made this decision based on recent feedback from communities. Moreover, we will close the Bitpay account, which will make it impossible to directly accept cryptocurrency as a donation method, Seitz-Gruwell said. The foundation will continue to monitor the development of the problem and will be flexible and responsive to the needs of volunteers[7].

Probability of falling under the law "on landing" in the Russian Federation

The Wikimedia Foundation, which owns the Russian Wikipedia, may fall under the law on landing, it became known on April 25, 2022, according to Roskomnadzor. The agency has already sent a request to the site administration about the daily attendance by Russian users of the Wikipedia information resource. Read more here.

A fine of 3 million rubles for refusing to remove fakes about a special operation in Ukraine

On April 26, 2022, a magistrate in the Tagansky district of Moscow fined the Wikimedia Foundation, which supports the infrastructure for the operation of the Wikipedia online encyclopedia, 3 million rubles for refusing to remove content banned in Russia.

According to TASS, the reason for the monetary recovery was several articles with information about a special operation in Ukraine, which the court considered biased. We are talking about publications dedicated to the special operation itself in Ukraine, as well as the events in Bucha and the destruction of the hospital and theater in Mariupol.

Wikipedia was fined 3 million rubles for refusing to remove fakes about a special operation in Ukraine

The Wikimedia Foundation lawyer said that the case contains documents in a foreign language that have not been translated and investigated, which does not allow the protocol to be fully considered. He added that anyone can edit articles on Wikipedia - make an amendment indicating the source, which will then be checked by the moderators, RIA Novosti reports.

On April 26, 2022, a court in Moscow fined the Wikimedia Foundation another 2 million rubles. The reason was articles about smoky and smokeless gunpowder. The organization was found guilty of an offense under Part 2 of Article 13.41 of the Code of Administrative Offenses ("Failure to use information prohibited in Russia").

The protocol regarding the fund was drawn up due to the refusal of Wikipedia administrators to delete two articles about smoky and smokeless gunpowder. Earlier, courts in the Tver and Tambov regions recognized that these articles contain information about the method and methods of making explosives. The courts also ordered the removal of these materials.

On March 2 and April 5, 2022, Roskomnadzor announced that it had sent Wikimedia demands to remove inaccurate information about Russia's special operation in Ukraine. As the department emphasized, the authors of the posted articles "purposefully misinform" users of the Internet resource with "frankly false information" and promote exclusively anti-Russian interpretation of events.^[8]

2001

The service was created by Jimmy Wales.

Notes