Hi all,
The EU Kids Act has landed. Wikimedia projects, as well as not-for-profit
educational and scientific projects are out of scope.
Dimi & Michele
=== Age Verification: EU Kids Act ===
On 17 September the European Commission unveiled the EU Kids Act
<https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/proposal-eu-kids-act-eu-ke…>
(technically a full acronym: EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable
and Trustworthy - EU KIDS AcT; but I strongly suggest we stick to
lowercase). The proposal sets a single EU-wide age limit of 15 for
accessing social media platforms and certain AI services, with no standard
social media access for under-13s, and supervised accounts with limited
daily use and features for 13–15 year olds. Safe-by-design requirements —
no addictive features, no algorithmic recommendations, no infinite scroll —
apply up to 18.
—
The headline for us: Article 2(4)
<https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/proposal-eu-kids-act-eu-ke…>
explicitly excludes all Wikimedia projects from the scope of the
regulation, including Phabricator. The exclusion list covers “non-profit
online encyclopedias”, “non-profit educational and scientific
repositories”, and “open-source software platforms”. From the opposite
perspective, the inclusion list puts "online social networking services"
and "video-sharing platform services", but both definitions do not target
Wikimedia projects.
—
This is a clean result, and consistent with the exemptions Wikimedians and
Wikimedia organisations have been advocating for in national laws across
the EU. It is especially nice to see that not only Wikimedia projects, but
also all educational and scientific platforms, will be able to avoid
additional barriers to access. Another bonus is that, should it be adopted,
many of the national proposals and discussions will become obsolete, as
EU-law layers on top of national laws.
—
The proposal now enters the legislative procedure. In the Council, it will
be handled primarily by the Audiovisual and Media Working Party (the same
one that also handles age checks in more traditional media). The Irish
Presidency has flagged the Kids Act as a priority. In the Parliament, we
expect the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee to take
the lead. Perhaps the Civil Liberties (LIBE) committee will co-lead.
—
Our top priority is to defend Article 2(4) throughout the legislative
process. We will however also cover how the age verification system
envisaged by the proposal will work in practice. Given that it will
effectively check large parts of the internet and the population, this
seems like an important infrastructural and societal question.
—
=== Age Verification: National ===
Denmark is (still) advancing its own national age limit bill
<https://dk.wikimedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B8ring/H%C3%B8ring_over_forslag_til_lov_…>,
which targets under-15s on very large online social networking platforms.
Our reading is that Wikimedia projects are not covered by the definition
used in the bill. We have been coordinating with Wikimedia Denmark on this
and they will submit a consultation response.
—
In Austria, the draft law has been published
<https://www.parlament.gv.at/gegenstand/XXVIII/SNME/6189> and is in
consultation. The Austrian approach targets platforms with specific
addictive functionalities — algorithmic feeds, endless scrolling — rather
than drawing up a platform list. This and the fact that it uses the AVMSD
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiovisual_Media_Services_Directive_2010>
and its definitions as a legal basis (for which Wikimedia Commons is not in
scope) means Wikimedia projects should in principle be outside scope.
Wikimedia Österreich submitted public feedback
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v_PU7KzjSRFvovd3TNvvY43-okvUNQQQ/view?usp=…>
to the government consultation pointing out some unclarities in the
definitions.
—
In Spain, Wikimedia España has published a blog post
<https://wikimedia.es/proteger-a-los-menores-en-internet-y-preservar-el-acce…>
on child protection. It is meant to be part of the wider discussions
around the Proyecto de Ley Orgánica
<https://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L15/CONG/BOCG/A/BOCG-15-A-52-1.PDF>.
The article is calling for the protection of minors online to be reconciled
with free access to knowledge — and for an explicit exemption along the
lines of the French law (which had exemptions similar to the ones in the EU
Kids Act). Either way, in the current version of the Spanish proposal
Wikimedia projects are also out of scope, as it targets providers of
audiovisual media services, as per AVMSD.
=== CSAM Regulation ===
A trilogue negotiation (Commission, Council, Parliament) on 29 September
was expected to be the make-it-or-break-it moment for the CSA Regulation
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_to_Prevent_and_Combat_Child_Sexual…>
(dubbed by critics as Chat Control). It wasn’t. The proposal aims to
legally oblige platforms to detect and report child sexual abuse material.
—
The central unresolved issue remains scanning on personal communication.
The position of the Parliament is that this should be allowed only with a
judicial order and only when very targeted. The Council has been pressing
Parliament to accept detection orders targeting specific "parts of a
service". It is an open question how broad “parts of service” can be
interpreted, but the Council's own Legal Service has warned in an internal
analysis that this approach would likely be found by courts to constitute
general and indiscriminate, and therefore unlawful. A leaked Council
document circulated ahead of the trilogue showed that member states were
still divided on the key questions. The Parliament's stated red line
remains the protection of end-to-end encryption.
=== Denmark: Media Ombudsman Law ===
A smaller but relevant Danish development: the Danish government has put
forward a proposal for a media ombudsman law (lov om medieombudsmanden),
with a consultation deadline of 29 September. The law would establish an
ombudsman with jurisdiction over so-called "alternative media actors"
(alternative
medieaktører) under §11. Wikimedia Danmark has drafted a submission
<https://dk.wikimedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B8ring/H%C3%B8ring_over_forslag_til_lov_…>
to the consultation arguing that Wikipedia and collaborative wikis should
not be included in the scope of this category. The argument is that
Wikipedia's community governance model and editorial processes are
categorically different from the kinds of actors the law is designed to
address, and that bringing it within scope would be both disproportionate
and counterproductive.
=== Copyright Reform Incoming ===
It is with a heavy heart that we need to report this. Both parliament and
Commission officials confirmed to us that a targeted, small copyright
reform is coming, likely in March, April or May next year. Meanwhile the
European Commission launched a targeted consultation
<https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-seeks-feedback-cha…>
on:
1.
The use of copyright-protected content in artificial intelligence
2.
The fight against online piracy of content like live events
3.
The application of the single equitable remuneration right of music
performers and producers
4.
Copyright of scientific research
Sounds familiar? That’s because there was a “call for evidence” (a fancy
synonym for an early consultation) weeks ago on the same questions. Anyway,
Wikimedia Europe did respond to the call
<https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…>
and we will also participate in the consultation. Top of mind will be the
strain AI systems put on community-led, open, and not-for-profit models, as
well as scientific research exceptions.
===END===
--
Wikimedia Europe ivzw
Hey all
The Danish government has published a draft bill on an age limit (15 years)
for social media users for comment:
https://hoeringsportalen.dk/Hearing/Details/71440
Under the draft § 1, subsection (1)(1)–(3), the bill would apply to
platforms that are covered by the definition in art. 2(7) or (8) in the DMA
(online social networking service or video-sharing platform service), have
been designated as very large online platforms under art. 33 of the DSA
*and* are accessed via login (cumulative criteria). The prohibition is
targeted at the users, not the platforms.
I know WMF projects are designated as VLOP under the DSA, but do we have
any statement on whether they constitute a social networking service under
art. 2(7) DMA? Note that the draft bill does not appear to require the
platform to have gatekeeper status under the DMA.
Kind regards,
Matthias
Dear friends,
This email contains links to updated resources on the Global Advocacy
Meta-Wiki page to support your advocacy work, as well as a few
announcements on how to get involved with upcoming events.
Curious what the WMF team has been up to in the past few months? We’ve
conveniently documented everything in this “Don’t Blink” recap
<https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/08/21/dont-blink-protecting-the-wikimedia-m…>.
Highlights include: Understanding online age verification; child safety in
Brazil; Wikimedia and AI.
We said watch this space. These updates are now live!
1. Completed! Communication survey. The results are in and OUT when it
comes to the survey we ran about how this group wishes to engage on calls,
collaborate, and communicate. On this page of our Meta-Wiki hub
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation/Legal/Global_Advocacy/…>,
you can find the link to survey results as well as our next steps. We will
be relaunching our monthly internet governance calls a swell as our
quarterly advocacy network calls.
- Next steps for quarterly calls: These calls will be hosted by YOU.
Please add your name to the list if you’re interested in hosting one of
them. If no one signs up, we will not move forward with these calls.
- Next steps for monthly calls: The next call has already been scheduled
for Thursday, October 1st. If you have not been invited but would like
to be, send Ziski an email.
2. Published! Comprehensive resource that compiles all key messages to
explain Wikimedia’s value to policy makers. Find it here on Commons
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Key_External_Messages_to_Explain_Wi…>.
Save it. Use it. Love it?
3. Updated policy priorities. WMF team is transitioning to a highly
prioritized remit of policy priorities for this fiscal year. These have now
been updated on our Meta-Wiki page
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation/Legal/Global_Advocacy/…>.
Our focus will be on (1) Ensuring that laws and regulations protect the
Wikimedia model and support its sustainable reuse over time; and (2)
Ensuring that new legislation and regulation around online safety will not
harm key values of the community’s editorial review or principles of open
governance. Our “documentation” page
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation/Legal/Global_Advocacy/…>has
been updated to include a brand new section dedicated to online safety, as
well as an archive of useful publications where you can see how we talk
about preserving and protecting the digital commons in the age of AI.
Events for you: RightsCon & EU Public Domain Day
== EU Public Domain Day ==
European Public Domain Day 2027 (EPDD27) will be held on 21 January 2027 in
the Royal Library in Brussels, Belgium. Together with scholars, advocates,
policy-makers and practitioners, EPDD celebrates the Public Domain and
discusses how we collectively can continue fostering it. EPDD is
collaboratively co-organized by a group of Belgian stakeholders in the
public domain sphere, including Wikimedia Europe and Wikimedia Belgium.
Here is how you can participate:
-
Submit a proposal: Send in a contribution to present at EPDD27. The
deadline for submissions is 30 September 2026.
-
Save the date: Join us on 21 January 2027 at the Royal Library in
Brussels.
For more details, please see:
-
Call for Contributions:
https://www.pdday.org/news/call-for-contributions-2027/
-
About Public Domain Day: https://www.pdday.org/about/
== RightsCon Online ==
Registration is now open for the RightsCon Continues Summit
<https://rightscon.summit.tc/catalog/rightscon-continues-2026> (online,
starting September 22, 2026)!
Over the course of 24 hours, spanning every time zone, the RightsCon
Continues Summit will bring our community together for a unique moment of
collective resilience. Through a focused online program built around themes
of solidarity, movement building, and cross-sector collaboration,
participants will exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and tackle some
of the biggest threats facing digital rights today.
To learn more or register today, visit the registration page
<https://www.rightscon.org/registration>. If you have any questions, feel
free to reach out to rightscon(a)accessnow.org.
Topics Wikimedians are actively monitoring and engaging in
==Forgive me Father for AI have….==
Wikimedians are engaging religious figures, the Vatican in particular, on
discussions of AI ethics.
-
Wikimedia Switzerland hosted and spoke at an excellent event that
covered Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on AI
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnifica_humanitas>. Watch the recording on
YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKzlJEOMdDg>. @Jenny Ebermann
<jenny.ebermann(a)wikimedia.ch>
-
Wikimedia Brazil is joining Father Paolo Benanti of the Vatican on
September 2nd for an event with UNESCO on plural intelligence
<https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7496691954219581440/?u…>.
@João Alexandre Peschanski <joalpe(a)wmnobrasil.org>
Why are we sharing a stage?
AI leaders in Silicon Valley are increasingly invoking morality arguments
such as the Antichrist or "magic intelligence in the sky" - either way,
framing AI as something that will reshape human destiny. You know who
thinks about morality and the antichrist a lot? The Vatican (and other
religious groups). And they take it seriously when someone with no
background in these concepts treads on their toes.
Believe it or not, Wikimedia and religious entities, particularly the
Vatican, may be on the same team in AI discussions. That team is the one
calling for alternative interpretations of AI ethics than what silicon
valley and industry leaders are propagating. Specifically, an understanding
that AI advancements need to place humans, and human dignity, at the center
of the equation. Technological progress must be weighed in light of the
social, cultural, and moral consequences it can have. And finally, these
tools must be able to reflect the plurality of human experiences and
intelligence. Moreover, we both know what it means to work through
multilingual, global networks.
🤓To learn more about the Vatican’s stance, I recommend this interview by
Kara Swisher
<https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vatican-takes-on-ai/id1643307527?…>
.
Why is this a smart play from a policy advocacy perspective?
Generally, forming unlikely alliances is an excellent advocacy tactic. My
favourite example from the Wikimedia universe is the work Wikimedia South
Africa and ReCreate did
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_South_Africa/Copyright_Amendment_…>to
advocate for Copyright reform alongside Blind South Africa, the Actor’s
Guild and Teacher’s Union. It helps you bring in new perspectives that
sharpen your arguments. Access to a new network of stakeholders and allies
that your new partners have gives you a broader reach, since you probably
haven’t worked with their network before. It secures more media attention.
And it often gives your cause higher credibility if unlikely partners
advocate for the same thing (the surprise factor means policymakers think,
‘woah, if these two are agreeing on something, maybe I need to pay
attention’).
If we are able to work more closely with well-known religious leaders, we
can pitch more interesting and unique panels on major international stages.
We can also share information about Wikimedia’s unique model and value
across networks that we haven’t before accessed. And finally, it may win
support for Wikimedia (or at least, make it harder to oppose us) among
conservative leaning audiences.
== Online safety and age-verification bills ==
We responded to a consultation in Brazil on the topic of child safety. All
details here
<https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/07/07/protecting-digital-public-goods-wikim…>
.
Lots and LOTS of age-verification updates in the EU. See the EU Monitoring
Report
<https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/publicpolicy@lists.wikimedia.or…>
.
‼️The biggest headline in this space is Meta’s landmark settlement in the
US. Read more:
-
The VergeCast <https://finance.biggo.com/podcast/1d289cb26299a180>
breakdown of the settlement
-
TechDirt
<https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/26/meta-just-paid-nearly-17-billion-to-mak…>
analysis of the ruling
-
Tech Policy Press
<https://www.techpolicy.press/what-metas-us-settlement-on-child-safety-means…>:
What the US ruling might mean for Europe
Great newsletters to monitor tech trends
To learn more about what's happening in tech policy discussions beyond
Wikimedia, check out some of these newsletters:
- The Internet Exchange <https://internet.exchangepoint.tech/>
- TechCrunch <https://techcrunch.com/tag/newsletter/>
- Tech Policy Press <https://www.techpolicy.press/newsletter/>
- Axios AI newsletter <https://www.axios.com/technology>
- Rest of the World <https://restofworld.org/>
Advocacy events where we're showing up as a movement (list always evolving)
1.
Sept 4 - 6 | Global Gathering, Portugal
2.
Sept 8 - 10 | Data for Policy, <https://dataforpolicy.org/> Barcelona
3.
Sept 22 | RightsCon Online Summit
4.
Sept 22 - 25 | UN General Assembly, NYC
5.
Oct 2 - 3 | WMEU Big Fat Brussels Meeting, Brussels
6.
Oct 28 - 30 | Mozilla Festival, Barcelona
7.
Nov 4 - 5 | Thomson Reuters TrustConference, London
8.
Nov 10 - 12 | Paris Peace Forum, Paris
9.
Nov 17 - 19 | Digital Public Goods Alliance annual members meeting, Paris
10.
Dec 14 - 18 | Internet Governance Forum, Nairobi
=== [image: 🙏]Thanks for Reading This Far[image: 🙏] ===
Franziska Putz (she/her)
Senior Movement Advocacy Manager
Global Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation
Fputz(a)wikimedia.org
UTC Timezone