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)

Avsnitt(1859)

Pavel Latushka: Can change in Belarus only come with change in Moscow?

Pavel Latushka: Can change in Belarus only come with change in Moscow?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Pavel Latushka, a key figure in the opposition movement struggling for regime change in Belarus. The country’s authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin - does that mean change in Minsk can only come with change in Moscow?

14 Aug 202422min

Ian Goldin: Is migration a drag or a driver of progress?

Ian Goldin: Is migration a drag or a driver of progress?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the renowned economist Ian Goldin, who wants to reframe the debate around migration. He’s been a senior official at the World Bank, an economic adviser to Nelson Mandela and he’s now professor of globalisation and development at Oxford University. His latest book, The Shortest History of Migration, illustrates the centrality of movement to the evolution of humanity – from the earliest human travellers leaving East Africa some 300,000 years ago to all of the people seeking sanctuary and prosperity across today's national borders.Migration is, right now, a hot and contentious topic. Powerful political voices across the world link migration with insecurity, crime and cultural breakdown. Others say migrants bring new ideas and energy and are vital to economic growth. It seems no amount of border security will stop people wanting to move; indeed, global heating and political instability are likely to see the numbers increase. Will migration, and how we deal with it, be the defining issue of this century?

12 Aug 202423min

Chris Ruddy: Is Trump's team worried?

Chris Ruddy: Is Trump's team worried?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Newsmax Media CEO Chris Ruddy, a key influencer on the American right and a longtime friend of Donald Trump. Polls have Democratic candidate Kamala Harris narrowly ahead of the former president in the race for the White House. Is Team Trump worried?

9 Aug 202422min

Garry Conille: What can he do for Haiti?

Garry Conille: What can he do for Haiti?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Haiti’s interim Prime Minister Garry Conille. His mission is to rescue Haiti from an unfolding catastrophe characterised by gang violence, mass hunger, corruption and a broken economy. Given Haiti’s recent history, what chance has he got?

7 Aug 202422min

The whistleblowers

The whistleblowers

In a special edition of HARDtalk, Stephen Sackur looks back at Interviews with guests who have risked their personal freedom to disclose secret information. What motivates these whistleblowers?

5 Aug 202422min

Ohad Tal: Is Israel gearing up for a multi-front war?

Ohad Tal: Is Israel gearing up for a multi-front war?

Stephen Sackur speaks to influential far-right Israeli politician Ohad Tal, who wants the military to push for total victory in Gaza, against Hezbollah, and in the de-facto conflict for Iran. Amid the assassinations and vows of retribution, is Israel gearing up for a multi-front war?

1 Aug 202422min

Adam Smith: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?

Adam Smith: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?

Stephen Sackur speaks to US Democratic party congressman Adam Smith. Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race and Kamala Harris’s anointment as his replacement has left Democrats almost giddy with excitement. But what makes them think they can beat Donald Trump?

31 Juli 202422min

Syed Zafar Islam: Will Narendra Modi change course?

Syed Zafar Islam: Will Narendra Modi change course?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Syed Zafar Islam, spokesman for India’s Hindu nationalist BJP party. Recent elections dealt Prime Minister Narendra Modi an unexpected blow; he lost seats, and his majority. Will that prompt him to row back on a policy agenda his critics call divisive and dangerous?

29 Juli 202422min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

svenska-fall
p3-krim
rss-krimstad
flashback-forever
motiv
rss-viva-fotboll
aftonbladet-krim
blenda-2
krimmagasinet
rss-krimreportrarna
rss-sanning-konsekvens
spar
aftonbladet-daily
rss-vad-fan-hande
svd-dokumentara-berattelser-2
fordomspodden
grans
politiken
olyckan-inifran
dagens-eko