Policy:Use of Wikimedia sites for advocacy purposes
 | This policy or procedure is maintained by the Wikimedia Foundation. Please note that in the event of any differences in meaning or interpretation between the original English version of this content and a translation, the original English version takes precedence. |
Purpose
Wikimedia project communities and the Wikimedia Foundation sometimes wish to use the Wikimedia projects to call attention to an issue or take a position in a way that is visible to all visitors (including readers who are not logged into an account). These actions usually take the form of a banner, a blackout, or a temporary change to the project’s logo. This policy describes the procedures necessary to approve such actions, and the rules the actions must follow.
Scope
This policy applies to the use of Wikimedia website assets for the purpose of advocacy about external topics.
Wikimedia website assets are all the parts of the Wikimedia project pages that are not directly related to project content, such as the header and footer, sidebar, and logo. These are the primary ways that website assets may be used for advocacy:
- Banners: temporary notices displayed at the top of project pages. Banners are usually implemented using CentralNotice or Sitenotice. Banners are used for many purposes, including promoting events, promoting contribution campaigns, and fundraising.
- Logo Changes: temporary alteration of the logo displayed at the top of project pages. Logo changes are most commonly used to commemorate project milestones (anniversaries, number of articles) or to commemorate holidays.
- Blackouts: replacing or obscuring project content with an important notice. These usually relate to significant legislative or political developments, and usually prompt readers to take action.
Project content is not within scope of this policy. Editorial decisions about what is appropriate to include on content pages are governed by project policies, such as English Wikipedia's WP:PROMOTION.
Advocacy is the attempt to influence public policy or public opinion on a topic. Some, but not all, advocacy would also count as public policy advocacy. Raising awareness about an issue, soliciting support for an aid organization, and supporting or opposing legislation are all types of advocacy.
An external topic is one that is not confined to Wikimedia projects and spaces. Some examples of external topics:
| Internal | External |
| Asking for input on a proposed change to a project copyright policy | Asking readers to contact their government representatives about a proposed change to copyright law |
| Soliciting donations to a Wikimedia entity | Soliciting donations to a non-Wikimedia charity |
| Commemorating a Wikimedia project anniversary or content milestone | Commemorating a national holiday |
| Asking volunteers to vote to elect stewards | Asking readers to vote in their local election |
| Promoting a local edit-a-thon or regional Wikimedia conference | Promoting a local non-Wikimedia cultural event |
Requirements, restrictions, and guidelines
General
- Projects must use their standard processes for obtaining consensus approval in order to use Wikimedia website assets for the purpose of advocacy about external topics.
- Supporting or opposing a candidate for public office, or a political party, is not permitted.
Banners
- All banners containing advocacy about external topics must use CentralNotice (not Sitenotice or other methods), and comply with CentralNotice usage guidelines.
- Advocacy banners may initially run for at most 31 days. This duration may be extended by additional periods of up to 31 days, but only if it receives renewed community consensus approval.
- Please notify the Wikimedia Foundation by emailing globaladvocacy
wikimedia.org at least 21 days in advance of running an advocacy banner.
Logo changes
- Project logos may only be changed temporarily to commemorate internal milestones or to commemorate holidays.
- Projects should avoid using logo changes to commemorate holidays that are primarily religious or political (such as national days).
- Logo designs should avoid deliberately referencing national flags or other symbols that represent a political organization (such as a government or political party).
- Logo changes may last for at most 31 days.
- Any changes to project logos must comply with the trademark policy.
Blackouts
- Blackouts may last no longer than 48 hours.
- Please notify the Wikimedia Foundation of any planned blackouts by emailing globaladvocacywikimedia.org.
Frequently asked questions
Available are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the use of Wikimedia sites for advocacy purposes.