Wikipedia:Free speech

This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

Shortcuts WP:FREE WP:FREESPEECH WP:FREEDOMOFSPEECH

This page in a nutshell: Although we welcome all constructive contributors, editing Wikipedia is a privilege, not a right. There is no legal right to edit Wikipedia.

The "right to free speech" has been cited on Wikipedia in response to sanctions against editors such as blocks and bans, as well as speedy deletions and editing restrictions imposed by administrators or the Arbitration Committee. Although the Wikimedia Foundation is headquartered (and some Wikipedia servers are located) in the United States, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution does not prevent Wikipedia from exercising editorial discretion. The First Amendment only forbids the US Government from censoring freedom of expression; it does not stop a public charity such as the Wikimedia Foundation from deciding for itself what words and images will be presented on its websites, and how.^[1]

In sum, in the United States you have the legal right to speak your mind (with certain narrow exclusions) on a street corner, at a town council meeting, or in a letter to your elected representatives. But you have no "right" to express yourself at will in someone else's home, to demand that a private newspaper publish your thoughts, or to insist that Wikipedia carry what you write‍—‌even if it's "The Truth".

There are some cases in which Wikipedia's editorial discretion is limited by the law, as when court decisions define a boundary between copyright violations and fair use. Editors may argue that Wikipedia's freedom of speech is violated when Wikipedia is forced to comply with these laws, but the appropriate venue for lodging these complaints is the political process.

Whilst Wikipedia is free-and-open, that freedom is limited in circumstances that conflict with building an encyclopaedia.