News | May 21, 2026

Who controls the information we see?

How Switzerland is confronting the question of information independence—and why Wikipedia matters more than ever

Switzerland is in the middle of a serious conversation about who controls the information its citizens rely on. In recent months, two major developments have brought this question into sharp focus: a decisive public vote to protect public broadcasting, and a proposed new law to regulate global technology platforms. Together, they signal that the Swiss public and its lawmakers recognise a growing need for information independence.

A clear message on public broadcasting

On 8 March 2026, 62% of Swiss voters rejected the “200 francs is enough” initiative, which would have slashed the public broadcasting licence fee and dramatically reduced the services of SRG SSR (1). The result sent a clear message: trustworthy, independent information is worth defending. The vote was a demonstration of Swiss citizens’ commitment to neutral and pluralistic media at a time when public broadcasters across Europe face mounting political pressure.

Regulating the platforms that shape public discourse

The debate extends beyond broadcasting. In late 2025, the Federal Council opened a public consultation on the draft Federal Act on Communication Platforms and Search Engines (KomPG) — Switzerland’s first comprehensive proposal to regulate the global platforms that now dominate how people access information (2). The law would apply to any platform or search engine used by at least 10% of the Swiss population on a monthly basis — a threshold that major services like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and Google comfortably surpass. These platforms would be required to offer transparent reporting procedures for unlawful content, explain their decisions when removing posts or blocking accounts, and disclose how their recommendation algorithms work.

The reasoning behind the law is straightforward: these platforms have become essential infrastructure for public debate, yet they operate according to privately set rules that are often opaque. Content can be removed or amplified without clear justification, shaping what millions of people see and believe.

Article_Who controls the information we see

Where Wikipedia stands

The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia operates on entirely different principles. It is open, ad-free and non-commercial, and therefore independent from the private interests that drive most of what we see online. Its content isn’t shaped by algorithms or advertisers, but by thousands of volunteer editors worldwide who follow strict standards of verifiability, neutrality and transparency. Every edit, every source, every discussion is open to scrutiny.

This model makes Wikipedia exactly the kind of information source that Swiss voters and lawmakers are trying to protect. While the SSR vote defended public broadcasting from budget cuts, and the KomPG seeks transparency among commercial platforms, Wikipedia represents a space where knowledge is genuinely in the hands of the people who create and use it.

A Swiss commitment to information independence

Wikimedia CH, the Swiss association behind the Wikipedia Community, has been an active participant in these debates. During the KomPG consultation, the Wikimedia Foundation raised important concerns about ensuring that the proposed law clearly exempts non-profit platforms like Wikipedia from regulations designed for commercial operators. It’s a distinction that matters if we want legislation to target the right problems without burdening the open-knowledge projects that are part of the solution.

The broader picture is encouraging. Switzerland is asking the right questions about who controls information, how to protect consumers rather than corporate interests, and what role independent media and knowledge platforms should play in a healthy democracy. These are questions that matter everywhere, but Switzerland’s direct democracy gives its citizens a unique ability to shape the answers.

Support independent knowledge

At Wikimedia CH, we work to ensure that free, accurate, and independent knowledge remains available to everyone. As a non-profit organisation that doesn’t accept advertising or government funding, we rely on donations from people who believe that trustworthy information is essential to a democratic society.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us continue this vital work. Your support helps maintain Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects as spaces where knowledge remains free, accessible and independent for everyone.

I SUPPORT FREE KNOWLEDGE

Icon: Jo Szczepanska, CC BY 4.0