For over ten years, Wikimedia communities and associations in Europe have been working together to improve the legal framework for free knowledge in Europe – advocacy at the European level and participation in shaping policy at the national level go hand in hand. Copyright reform, the AI ​​Act, and the Digital Services Act (DSA) are just a few examples that have occupied us in recent years. 

Claudia Garád, Wikimedia Österreich’s Executive Director, is an active supporter of the European idea within the Wikiverse. Since 2022, Claudia has served as the volunteer President of Wikimedia Europe – a European umbrella organisation in Brussels, shaped and managed by over 30 European Wikimedia associations, and acting as a strong voice for public-interest-oriented internet policy at the European level. 

Claudia, what exactly does Wikimedia Europe do? 

Our aim is to be a kind of network hub in the international Wikiverse, facilitating effective exchange and cooperation between Wikimedia organizations. Decentralized cooperation is a major strength of our volunteer communities. In Europe, we demonstrate that Wikimedia organizations also have this way of working in their DNA. Especially in these politically and socially challenging times, when civic engagement is increasingly restricted everywhere, we can only survive and exert real influence as a collective. 

Wikimedia Europe is therefore a shared platform for collaborative work on European legislative processes that impact Wikimedia projects. It also supports collaborative fundraising activities for joint projects and skills development and transfer. This happens particularly in the areas of advocacy and fundraising, but also beyond. 

Why is international digital policy important for an affiliate such as Wikimedia Austria? 

First and foremost, it’s about the digital infrastructure on which everything is built: For Wikipedia, other Wikimedia projects, or our ÖsterreichWiki to function at all, we need an open, free, and globally functioning internet. Without interoperability and open standards, these projects would not be possible. European and international digital policy, therefore, determines very concretely whether free knowledge remains accessible to everyone and under what conditions our communities can operate. 

Furthermore, national legislation in this area is largely based on European regulations, which are usually designed with large, commercial platforms and social media in mind. Non-commercial, public service digital projects are often not given a voice and cannot lobby to the same extent as multi-billion-dollar corporations. Through Wikimedia Europe, we have the opportunity to pool and amplify the activities and resources of individual members and thus counteract this imbalance. 

Last but not least, it’s also about transparent political decision-making processes: Digital policy doesn’t just affect technical or economic developments, but directly impacts how we live together as a society. After all, we use digital platforms for consumption and communication, we form our opinions online, we work with digital tools, and so on. Therefore, we advocate for the structural integration of organizations representing civil society into decision-making processes in Austria and Europe: Politics, business, science, and civil society should work together transparently on solutions. 

What is your role at Wikimedia Europe? 

During the founding phase, I initially served as president on the interim board to prepare the organization for its spin-off, and then in 2025 I was elected to the first “official” board in the same role. My responsibilities include representing the association externally—although this has now been largely delegated to the managing director, Anna Mazgal, in day-to-day operations. In addition, I handle governance and HR matters, as well as risk management within the association, and act as a liaison to the global Wikimedia movement beyond Europe. Last year, together with the board, employees and a project group of representatives from the member organizations, we also developed our first integrated multi-year strategy. 

What does Wikimedia Europe mean to you personally? 

Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission and architect of European integration, used to say: “Never choose between being an optimist or a pessimist. The only choice you can make is to be an activist.” 

My volunteer role as President of Wikimedia Europe gives me the opportunity to be an activist in two projects that have been formative for me personally and represent, in my opinion, the most wonderful experiments in human history: Wikipedia and the European Union. Both are examples of how people can achieve the previously unimaginable when they consistently prioritize trust and cooperation. This gives me courage, confidence, and a sense of self-efficacy, even on dark days when I feel the world is increasingly falling apart. 

To learn more about WMEU visit our page on Meta-wiki

Check the WMEU public policy blog to follow the latest developments in our public policy work in Europe

Peter Zlabinger is a Communications Advisor at Wikimedia Österreich and his job is to explain the ins and outs of the Wikiverse to our various audiences and stakeholder groups. In EU advocacy two complex universes meet – the policy making of the European Union and the Wikimedia Movement. Wikimedia Österreich has been an integral part of Wikimedia advocacy in Europe. In this interview Peter explores what makes advocacy so exciting but also important from an Austrain but also global movement perspective.

Before joining the On‑Wiki Skills mentorship program, my engagement with Wikimedia projects was mostly as a reader. I was curious about open knowledge but unfamiliar with how data works or how contributors actively build and maintain Wikimedia projects.

Through the mentorship, I was introduced to Wikimedia as a collaborative ecosystem that offers structured ways of organizing and connecting knowledge. The learning curve was initially challenging especially understanding items, properties, statements, and references but with guidance from mentors and hands‑on practice, these concepts gradually became clearer.

Skill Acquired

During the training, I developed skills in sourcing and referencing information and understanding structured data. These experiences changed how I view knowledge creation and reinforced the idea that learning continues beyond formal lessons.

Some of my image uploads

Participating in practical exercises and guided contributions helped build my confidence and showed me that I could engage meaningfully with a global open‑knowledge communication.

My Gratitude

I am grateful to the Wikimedia community, mentors, and program organizers for their support and encouragement. Completing the mentorship marked a new beginning for me, and I look forward to continuing to explore and contribute to open knowledge

There was a time when Wikipedia was the go-to source for information and one of the most trusted tools for research across the world. From students and journalists to researchers and everyday internet users, millions relied on the platform for quick and accessible knowledge. However, as technology continues to evolve, the way people consume information has also changed.

Today, Wikipedia faces growing competition from emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and social media platforms, which now shape how many people search for and engage with information online. As a result, the platform has experienced a decline in page views over the years, raising important questions about its future relevance and visibility in the digital age.

To address these concerns, about 100 Wikimedian affiliates, volunteers, and external experts gathered in Frankfurt am Main from 30 January to 1 February 2026, for the Wikimedia Futures Lab event organised by the Wikimedia movement. The Futures Lab serves as a space for research, experimentation, and forward-thinking conversations on the future of free knowledge.

At a time when technology is rapidly transforming the internet and information-sharing, the event provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on how Wikipedia can continue to remain relevant, visible, and trusted in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

From the attendees

The conversations and ideas shared during the event formed the AWW Voices Podcast episode “Can Wikipedia Evolve with the Digital Age?”. In this episode, host Oluwapelumi Aina joined by Ruby D Brown, Co-Founder of African Wiki Women, Tochi Precious, Language Advocate and Co-Founder of the Igbo User Group, and Olubusola Afolabi, Community Engagement Lead at Free Knowledge Africa. 

Having attended the Wikimedia Futures Lab event, the guests shared their experiences, reflections, and key takeaways from the discussions held in Frankfurt. 

“The world around us is changing really fast. When you think about how people trust information online, AI-generated media, new laws, and shifting technologies, it becomes important to understand how these trends affect us as the Wikimedia community,” says Tochi.

Wikipedia vs Digital Age

Despite technological advancement, Wikipedia, once regarded as one of the most trusted digital information platforms, has seen a decline in page views since 2016 as more people turn to AI tools for information. However, it is important to recognise that many AI systems are trained using content from platforms like Wikipedia.

“For example, when you search for something on Google, the AI overview provides a summary alongside references. Very few people actually click on the Wikipedia link for the longer version. This shows that people are still consuming Wikipedia content, but AI tools now act as middlemen,” explains Olubusola.

According to her, this shift means Wikipedia can no longer rely solely on users visiting the platform directly. Instead, it must adapt to changing online habits and find ways to bring information closer to the spaces where audiences already spend their time.

She adds that Wikipedia must adapt by meeting audiences where they already are, bringing information directly to the platforms people use instead of expecting them to always visit the main website.

The solution

The rise of AI and social media has also changed how people consume information. Many users now prefer short-form content over long-form reading because of shrinking attention spans. Since Wikipedia is traditionally a long-form platform, there is growing pressure for it to evolve alongside these changing habits.

For many younger internet users, information is no longer consumed through lengthy articles alone. Videos, creators, podcasts, and short-form explainers are increasingly becoming the preferred way to learn and engage online.

“People are moving away from institution-based information and increasingly relying on personalities. They want direct interaction, and video content makes information easier to consume. As Wikimedia, we need to pay attention to these shifts so we can meet people where they are,” says Ruby.

The Dilemma

Wikimedia exists because of the volunteers who edit and write the content on the platform. While keeping up with technological change is necessary, the movement also faces the challenge of ensuring that technology does not overshadow the human element that has always been at the centre of Wikimedia projects.

As conversations around AI continue to grow, many community members believe the focus should remain on supporting contributors rather than replacing them.

Last year, the Wikimedian community launched its AI Strategy, which clearly showed that AI should not replace the human writers and editors but rather support their work.