Founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales on the importance of trust in our online and offline communities @WheelerCentre
Founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales on the importance of trust in our online and offline communities  @WheelerCentre
Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales as he discusses the importance of trust in our online and offline communities and how Wikipedia evolved into one of the internet’s most reputable sources of information. With host Sally Warhaft.

Originally presented on Wednesday 20 May 2026 by The Wheeler Centre in partnership with RMIT University.

When Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia more than two decades ago, he changed the landscape of knowledge forever – although at the time, almost no one realised it. Today, Wikipedia draws 11 billion monthly views in the English language alone.

In the current ‘post-truth’ era, the internet is a sea of disinformation, the rise of AI threatens to erode hard-won knowledge and facts are increasingly malleable. In his new book, The Seven Rules of Trust, Wales shows us that it's more important than ever to return to the problem at the heart of it all: that without trust, we have no knowledge. And without knowledge, we can't fight back.

In this fascinating edition of The Fifth Estate, Wales sits down with host Sally Warhaft to discuss the importance of trust in our online and offline communities, how Wikipedia evolved into one of the internet’s most reputable sources of information and shares his optimistic take on the future. With an introduction by Professor Lisa Waller.

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Founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales on the importance of trust in our online and offline communities

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