Knowledge under pressure: Toward free access to information and a better internet

Political pressure on the access to knowledge increased across the globe in 2025: independent media and universities were harassed, and science as the basis for knowledge was often called into question. Wikipedia, too, came under scrutiny from governments, corporations, and tech oligarchs who perceive independent knowledge as a threat. Precisely for this reason — and at a time of corporate dominance on the internet, when it is often marked by disinformation and polarization — free and independent access to verified knowledge is a precious asset for everybody.

As Wikimedia Deutschland, one of our goals is to organize broad political and societal support for freely accessible knowledge — both nationally and internationally. In 2025, our efforts were again aimed at winning over decision-makers from various fields as supporters and at forging political alliances for a democratic and transparent digital policy that serves the common good.

Following the federal elections in Germany in February 2025, the CDU planned to abolish the Freedom of Information Act (IFG). Presented in the guise of “state modernization”, this change would have significantly hindered access to public records. However, the state, politics, and democracy already face a lack of trust, and the general public needs more rather than less information about the actions of government agencies and ministries. That is why we protested against the planned abolition. And we succeeded: The IFG remained in place. An announcement regarding reform followed, but its implementation is still pending.

Compared to other European countries, Germany ranks near the bottom in terms of transparency. It is often difficult for citizens to understand how government agencies, ministries, or politicians make decisions. Our brochure “Freedom of Information for Wikipedia – and for Trust in the State” (available in German) published in 2025 explains why this must change and outlines the arguments in favor of greater openness. A modern transparency law would not only help free knowledge projects like Wikipedia, but also make public administration more efficient and boost trust.

Clear standards are also needed when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence: In the publication “Generative AI for the Public Sector?” (available in German), which we also published in 2025, we demonstrate that government decisions must remain transparent, rule-based and reliable. Traditional rule-based systems are often better suited for this purpose than generative AI systems.

In the run-up to the federal elections and during the coalition negotiations, we already worked with a broad alliance to point out what we expected from the new German Federal Government: a digital policy that serves the people and the environment. While the analysis of the coalition agreement shows that some of our demands were addressed, many issues remain unresolved.

How do we live and learn in a world increasingly shaped by AI applications? How can education remain reliable and free in this context? In 2025, with the two-part workshop series Open AI in Schools, we began to engage teachers and education stakeholders to explore a conscientious use of AI tools in the classroom. A survey among teachers, students and parents revealed how Wikipedia and digital educational resources are used today — and where action is needed. We distributed the resulting brochure with education policy recommendations to education policymakers and used it in discussions as an argument for free and open education.

Education is also a key focus of the publication Fundamental Rights in the Digital Age, featuring contributions from 25 experts, which we published in the fall of 2025. Among other topics, it addresses educational equity, data protection, and the right to media education for greater media literacy. Moreover, the book examines how two of our most important fundamental rights — freedom of expression and privacy — can be protected in the digital environment. Various articles also present solutions for topics such as digital surveillance, AI and algorithms, as well as protection against digital violence.

The internet is not neutral. Commercial platforms like X, Meta, or Google are increasingly shaping our public discourse — often at the expense of diversity and trust. In an open letter to the governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD, we therefore joined other civil society organizations in calling for a more effective oversight of digital platforms. The core demand: Digital platforms should no longer be programmed in a way that massively influences discourse and divides societies. To address these risks, existing regulations such as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act must be effectively implemented.

At the same time, we highlighted alternatives to Big Tech and, through the Action Alliance for New Social Media, we launched a petition and held discussions with the German Rectors’ Conference, arguing for example why universities should switch from X to Mastodon. We provided a step-by-step guide on how to make the switch, and as a symbolic act, Friedrich Merz was presented with a Mastodon account at the start of his chancellorship.

As part of the Action Alliance for New Social Media, we also conducted a series of workshops on platform alternatives and more sustainable digitalization in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Among other things, these workshops aimed to explain how Wikipedia works and to make it easier for potential users to get started with the Fediverse.

Wikimedia Deutschland remained closely involved in global digital policy processes in 2025 and actively participated in international panels — because Wikipedia is a global project that requires global participation in shaping digital policy. As the largest organization in the global Wikimedia movement after the Wikimedia Foundation, we serve as a strong voice for a free and open internet. Exchange with partner organizations within the Wikimedia movement and beyond played a central role here. Together, we analyzed political developments, coordinated strategies, and shared experiences at national and international events — from specialist conferences such as the re:publica in Berlin to forums like the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI.

The year 2025 has made it clear that Free Knowledge cannot be taken for granted. It is under growing pressure — politically, economically, and technologically. This makes it all the more important to actively shape the underlying conditions. That is why we will continue to advocate for Wikipedia to remain a place where knowledge can be accessed freely, independently, and reliably. Because a democratic society needs an informed public — who in turn needs freely accessible knowledge reviewed by human peers.