U.S. attorney for D.C. accuses Wikipedia of 'propaganda,' threatens nonprofit status

[dalton99a]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/25/wikipedia-nonprofit-ed-martin-letter/

U.S. attorney for D.C. accuses Wikipedia of ‘propaganda,’ threatens nonprofit status
Trump appointee Ed Martin accuses the online encyclopedia of “allowing foreign actors to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public.”
April 25, 2025 at 6:54 p.m. EDT
By Will Oremus and Julian Mark

The acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent a letter to the nonprofit that runs Wikipedia, accusing the tax-exempt organization of “allowing foreign actors to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public.”

In the letter dated April 24, Ed Martin said he sought to determine whether the Wikimedia Foundation’s behavior is in violation of its Section 501(c)(3) status. Martin asked the foundation to provide detailed information about its editorial process, its trust and safety measures, and how it protects its information from foreign actors.

“Wikipedia is permitting information manipulation on its platform, including the rewriting of key, historical events and biographical information of current and previous American leaders, as well as other matters implicating the national security and the interests of the United States,” Martin wrote. “Masking propaganda that influences public opinion under the guise of providing informational material is antithetical to Wikimedia’s ‘educational’ mission.”

The letter, which was earlier reported by the Free Press, is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration and its allies, including Martin, against institutions, media outlets and online platforms they have accused of pushing liberal agendas or political views. It builds on growing conservative criticism of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that is collaboratively written and edited by thousands of volunteer contributors from around the world.

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[Cha]

1. Which coming from Mump's Lawless Lawyers is Bullshit.

I read early on that Fishface Nazi boy wanted to take over Wikipeida.. looks like they've started. Russian Asshole Agents.

[usonian]

2. So every nonprofit "propaganda" outlet should be denied tax exemption?

Last edited Sat Apr 26, 2025, 01:52 AM - Edit history (1)

That means taxing certain churches?

Asking for a friend.



You've seen the video.

[Eugene]

3. Interesting. Foreign influence concerns them when it doesn't come from Russia.

Wikipedia strives to be a worldwide organization, and a disproportionately large number of it's volunteer editors are European. The free exchange of ideas that Wikipedia engages in is only a threat to tyrants.

Ed Martin's attack on Wikipedia closely parallels the FCC's attack on NBC and CBS for "distortion." This is all part of the authoritarian checklist: control the flow of information by taking out independent press, academic institutions and civil society organizations.

[spooky3]

4. Hey, Ed, how did your attempt to extort Georgetown Law School work out? Nt

[newdeal2]

5. Only Trump propaganda can be allowed

Erasing history is our job!

[Frasier Balzov]

6. The holy bible is propaganda written by foreigners.

It purports to be fact. How do you feel about that Ed?

[moniss]

7. As though the thousands and thousands of conservative

non-profits aren't spewing propaganda? What a hack this guy is.

[Qutzupalotl]

8. Yes, they can, but it can be edited back.

It’s crowdsourcing to arrive at a better description of the truth. Authoritarians hate that.

[Figarosmom]

9. That's funny

Since they seem to encourage foreign manipulation of information on Twitter and Facebook and other social media.

[Solly Mack]

10. ...

[Dave Bowman]

11. Dafuq is that nonsense?