Wikipedia:Free speech

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This page concerns free speech on Wikipedia. For information related to government, please see Freedom of speech.
"WP:FREE" redirects here. For free content policies, see Wikipedia:Non-free content.
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The "right to free speech" is often cited on Wikipedia in response to blocks and bans, as well as editing restrictions enacted by Wikipedia policy or the Arbitration Committee. Many contributors believe that because the Wikimedia Foundation is incorporated in the United States, and because the Wikipedia servers are located in the US, that contributors are afforded free speech by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The text of the First Amendment follows:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The most important clause of that statement is "Congress shall make no law." Wikipedia is a private website, hosted by the privately incorporated Wikimedia Foundation, and governed solely by the Board of Trustees. As a private website, Wikipedia may block, ban, or otherwise restrict from editing its pages any individual, with or without reason. Wikipedia, and the Wikimedia Foundation that sponsors and regulates it, is free to establish its own policies and practices regarding who may edit here, and is not subject to regulation by the governments of the United States or the States of Florida and California in this respect.

True, Wikipedia does welcome all contributors, and is dedicated to assuming good faith with regard to all contributors. There are policies, like the blocking policy and the Arbitration policy, that have been adopted by the Wikipedia community to govern matters related to restricting users' access, but these policies are subject to change and are not legally enforceable.

In short, editing Wikipedia is a privilege, not a right; there is no right to edit Wikipedia. As difficult as it is to accept, and as harsh as it sounds to say it, there are only two rights on Wikipedia: the right to fork and the right to leave.

Please note: Nothing on Wikipedia.org or of any project of Wikimedia Foundation Inc., should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. Please see Wikipedia:Legal disclaimer.

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