Skip to content
Technology & Innovation

Wikipedia founder: Internet can Topple Tyrants

Online encyclopedia pioneer Jimmy Wales is excited about the explosion of people online, saying it even gives those living under tyrants the power to demand change.

What’s the Latest Development?

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is excited about the explosion of people with internet access: now there are about two billion people online (essentially the bulk of the developed world) and in 5-10 years the next billion people will join them. Suddenly people’s access to information explodes. And the possibilities for political change are enormous, Wales says.

What’s the Big Idea?

“It means they’re connected, that they can organise revolutions, they can learn what’s going on in other countries. I think we are going to see in some of these perpetual basket-case countries with one tyrant after another that people are finally going to have the ability to demand change. It’s very exciting.”


Related

Up Next
The USB stick in your hand contains a zip file with your genome on it. You insert the drive into the side of your computer and click the button on the screen that says “Upload." The machine spits out a prognosis. The secret to your very own personal happiness.