Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia co-founder: We’re living in an era of a massive lowering of trust
The Interview29 Okt 2025

Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia co-founder: We’re living in an era of a massive lowering of trust

‘We’re living in an era of a massive lowering of trust’

Shaun Ley speaks to Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, one of the most visited websites in the world.

He talks about how to trust in a digital age, the pressures facing open‑knowledge platforms and his new book The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last, where he shares the lessons that transformed Wikipedia and could transform our relationship with information too.

Jimmy Wales co founded Wikipedia in 2001, it was built on the principle that knowledge should be free and created collectively. With over 300 language editions, it’s the largest free knowledge resource, relying on donations by online readers.

He reflects on how Wikipedia is navigating an era of misinformation, political pressure, and declining public trust in institutions. From accusations of left-leaning bias by conservative voices and scrutiny from authoritarian governments, to the challenge of keeping a global, multilingual platform accurate and inclusive, he explains how Wikipedia’s unique open-source model, powered by thousands of volunteer editors, continues to hold the line on transparency and truth. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Shaun Ley Producer: Farhana Haider Researcher: Meaghaen Reid Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Photo: Jimmy Wales. Credit: Daniel Leal/AFP)

Episoder(1860)

Cornel West: Could enough votes taken from Joe Biden help Donald Trump get elected?

Cornel West: Could enough votes taken from Joe Biden help Donald Trump get elected?

Stephen Sackur is in New York City to speak to Cornel West, the high-profile philosopher, writer and activist who has launched his own bid for the White House. Running as independent, he looks unlikely to win but could this anti-war socialist take enough votes from Joe Biden to help Donald Trump get elected a second time?

12 Feb 202423min

Vassily Nebenzia: Is Russia influencing global opinions?

Vassily Nebenzia: Is Russia influencing global opinions?

Stephen Sackur is in New York City, home of the United Nations, to speak to Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN. Ambassador Nebenzia is a key player in Vladimir Putin’s combative diplomatic strategy to accuse the West of seeking to impose its will on the world, from Ukraine to the Middle East. How effective is Moscow in the battle for world opinion?

7 Feb 202423min

José Ramos-Horta: Peace and reconciliation

José Ramos-Horta: Peace and reconciliation

Stephen Sackur speaks to José Ramos Horta, President of Timor-Leste. Are there lessons for the world to learn from his extraordinary life?

5 Feb 202423min

Abdalla Hamdok: Can Sudan find peace?

Abdalla Hamdok: Can Sudan find peace?

Zeinab Badawi speaks to the former prime minister of Sudan, Abdalla Hamdok. He is at the heart of negotiations to bring peace to the country after ten months of conflict, in which thousands have died and millions have been displaced. Can his efforts succeed?

1 Feb 202423min

Ronald Lamola: Is South Africa's genocide case against Israel a geo-political game changer?

Ronald Lamola: Is South Africa's genocide case against Israel a geo-political game changer?

Stephen Sackur speaks to South African justice minister Ronald Lamola, a key player in the country’s genocide case against Israel presented to the International Court of Justice. The court’s preliminary ruling has made little immediate difference to the war in Gaza, but longer term could it be a geo-political game changer?

31 Jan 202423min

Jasvinder Sanghera: Abuse and the Church of England

Jasvinder Sanghera: Abuse and the Church of England

Stephen Sackur speaks to Jasvinder Sanghera, who as a child escaped a forced marriage and has been a lifelong advocate for survivors of abuse. She was hired by the Church of England to help them confront abuse allegations. But she and they are now at odds. What went wrong?

29 Jan 202423min

Radek Sikorski: Will Poland's new government unite or divide the country?

Radek Sikorski: Will Poland's new government unite or divide the country?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski. Poland has been a key pillar of the Western alliance supporting Ukraine against Putin’s invasion, but is war fatigue undermining that bond? And is Poland's new government going to unite the country or divide it?

26 Jan 202423min

Naomi Alderman: Apocalypse soon?

Naomi Alderman: Apocalypse soon?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the writer and computer game creator Naomi Alderman. Her latest novel - The Future - is a techno thriller set at the end of days. Is the apocalypse she imagines all too possible?

24 Jan 202423min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
popradet
stopp-verden
fotballpodden-2
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
det-store-bildet
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-gukild-johaug
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
bt-dokumentar-2
frokostshowet-pa-p5
unitedno
rss-ness
e24-podden
grasoner-den-nye-kalde-krigen