Wikimedia Europe/Projects
Wikimedia Europe Projects
[edit]Detailed overview of projects implemented by Wikimedia Europe beyond regular activities.
DEM-Debate
[edit]DEM-Debate is a 18 month participatory research initiative run by Wikimedia Europe, the University of Amsterdam and Eurecat – Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya and the Wikimedia communities in Europe. It is supported by the European Media and Information Fund – EMIF managed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Wikipedia has a significant impact on our everyday lives. The largest free knowledge platform on the internet, we regularly rely on its accessible, up-to-date information to form our opinions, even on critical events such as elections.
While most of the research has focused on how large, commercial platforms address disinformation, less attention has been given to platforms non-profit, community-led platforms such as Wikipedia.
The DEM-Debate project aims to fill this gap by exploring whether, and how, the fact-checking and moderation practices used by Wikipedia during the 2024 European Parliament election have enhanced the reliability of the information ecosystem. It also seeks to determine if these practices can be transferred to other online contexts, fostering an environment that nurtures a more democratic debate.
The evidence-based policy recommendations generated by DEM-Debate will inform EU policymakers, supporting future legislation that favours community-driven, free knowledge initiatives. The identified transferable practices will offer solutions for other platforms and community-led projects, promoting a more reliable and pluralistic digital space.
By analysing what works and what does not in Wikipedia’s fact-checking and moderation model, DEM-Debate will contribute to a more transparent and trustworthy information ecosystem in the European Union.
DEM-Debate kicked-off in September 2024 and will run until February 2026.
Project aims
[edit]- Assess how EU frameworks support free knowledge projects with a community-led model such as Wikipedia’s.
- Identify fact-checking and moderation strategies used by Wikipedia’s volunteer editors to manage disinformation during high-stakes moments like elections.
- Identify Wikipedia’s transferable practices that can be applied to other platforms and contexts to strengthen democratic debate online.
- Providing actionable insights for policymakers and community-governed projects based on evidence on Wikipedia fact-checking and moderation practices.
Through interdisciplinary, transnational research, DEM-Debate will
- Analyse the current EU policies and frameworks are applicable to platforms addressing disinformation like Wikipedia
- Investigate interaction patterns across Wikipedia’s edit histories and talk pages related to elections to identify trends and conflicts
- Engage Wikipedia communities across Europe in a participatory research to map their practices, ensuring that the project’s outcomes are grounded in practical, real-world challenges
- Develop evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and community-based to contribute to a reliable, pluralistic online information ecosystem.