The Interview Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia co-founder: We’re living in an era of a massive lowering of trust
Oct 29, 2025
Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and advocate for open knowledge, discusses the urgent need to rebuild trust in the digital age. He shares insights from his book, The Seven Rules of Trust, exploring how Wikipedia's community-driven model counteracts the rising tide of misinformation. Wales addresses challenges like political bias, moderation of bad actors, and maintaining neutrality. He also highlights the risks and opportunities presented by AI, advocating for transparency as a cornerstone for restoring public confidence in information.
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Show Work To Earn Trust
- In low‑trust environments, pleading for trust backfires and raises suspicion.
- Showing work, admitting errors, and running corrections builds credibility more effectively.
Use Graduated Enforcement
- Warn offenders kindly first, then escalate to blocks or bans if they persist.
- Use graduated enforcement to protect community norms and keep most contributors engaged.
Neutrality As Collective Practice
- Relying on a preponderance of reliable sources helps distinguish fact from opinion.
- Neutrality is a community practice, not a fixed state, requiring ongoing debate and judgement.
