On: Finland Moves To Block Wikipedia Donations

[Joona]

The Finnish fundraising law states, any fundraising or donations needs a special permit issued by the responsible Finnish authority. The Finnish National Police Board has sent a request to Wikipedia to explain how their Finland fund collection activities are inline with the Finnish laws and regulations.

Definitely understandable.

[wyager → Joona]

Yeah, it's super understandable for governments to block international non-profit organizations from getting donations because they don't comply with some random-ass heavy-handed domestic law.

[lelandbatey → wyager]

Well, it is when they are only going to be blocking donations coming from Finland.

The purpose of the Finnish law is "You can't get donations from Finns without a permit." Wikipedia doesn't have a permit, thus they can't get donations from the citizens of Finland.

Seems rather straightforward to me.

[_hyn3 → lelandbatey]

Yes because the government should control and approve where I donate my money. That seems free.

[EiZei → _hyn3]

So you are completely fine with scam charities and sending money to Al Qaeda?

[aeykie → EiZei]

There's a huge jump from Wikipedia donations to scam charities and funding terrorist organizations.

[nl → lelandbatey]

So can Finns donate to the International Red Cross? Or does every charity in the world have to apply for a permit in Finland?

[jsnell → nl]

Of course nevery charity in the world doesn't need to apply for a permit in Finland. First, the law doesn't regulate receiving donations. It's a restriction on soliciting the public for donations.

And second, Finland of course doesn't have jurisdiction over every charity in the world. But there is actually a Finnish non-profit branch of the WikiMedia foundation, who would fall under that jurisdiction. Their argument is that they have absolutely nothing to do with the fundraising, and it's all handled by the American WikiMedia Foundation.