October 29, 2025

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

22 minutes

‘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 [email protected] and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

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

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