Differences between WikiLeaks and Wikipedia
WikiLeaks vs. Wikipedia[edit]
WikiLeaks and Wikipedia are unaffiliated online platforms with different goals and structures, despite the presence of "wiki" in their names.[1][2] The term "wiki" refers to any website that allows collaborative editing by its users, a feature central to Wikipedia's model.[2] WikiLeaks, in contrast, does not operate on a collaborative user-editing model.[3] Wikipedia's purpose is to create a free, accessible encyclopedia summarizing established knowledge, whereas WikiLeaks's purpose is to publish original documents from anonymous sources.[4]
Wikipedia was founded in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.[5] It is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that supports a range of free-knowledge projects.[1] WikiLeaks was founded in 2006 by Julian Assange and operates as an international non-profit organization dedicated to publishing leaks.
The content on Wikipedia is generated and edited by a global community of volunteers. Articles are expected to be written from a neutral point of view, summarizing information found in reliable, published sources, without including original research. WikiLeaks, on the other hand, publishes primary source materials, such as classified or otherwise restricted documents, provided by anonymous sources. The content is reviewed internally by an editorial board before release but is not open to public editing.
Comparison Table[edit]
| Category | WikiLeaks | Wikipedia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Mission | To publish leaks and confidential information from anonymous sources to promote transparency.[4] | To create a free, comprehensive, and neutral encyclopedia through open collaboration. |
| Content Type | Primary source documents, such as internal memos, emails, and classified files. | Tertiary source encyclopedic articles summarizing existing knowledge from published sources.[5] |
| Content Creation | Documents are submitted anonymously and published by an internal editorial staff. | Articles are written and edited collaboratively by any volunteer from the general public. |
| Editing Model | Closed; content is published as-is and is not editable by the public.[3] | Open; anyone can edit most articles, with changes tracked in a public history. |
| Anonymity | Protects the identity of sources who submit documents. | Editors can contribute without registering, but their IP address is public. Registered users have more privacy. |
| Governing Body | An international non-profit media organization directed by its editor-in-chief. | The Wikimedia Foundation, a U.S. non-profit, provides legal and technical support, but editorial policy is set by the volunteer community.[1] |
Operational Differences[edit]
The core operational difference lies in their relationship to information. Wikipedia synthesizes existing, publicly available information into encyclopedic summaries. Its strength comes from the large volume of volunteers who continuously update and correct articles. This open model relies on policies requiring verifiability in reliable sources and a neutral point of view to build consensus.
WikiLeaks operates as a publisher of original material. Its model is not based on broad collaboration but on securing information from sources and disseminating it. Historically, WikiLeaks partnered with established media organizations to analyze and report on its document releases. While WikiLeaks originally used a wiki software format that allowed for user commentary, this was discontinued, and it now follows a more traditional publisher-editor model.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "wikimediafoundation.org". Retrieved February 08, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved February 08, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "britannica.com". Retrieved February 08, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved February 08, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ebsco.com". Retrieved February 08, 2026.
