Title: The effects of IP address range blocking on contribution to the free knowledge
Speaker: Tochi Precious, Antoni Mtavangu, Bobby Shabangu
Abstract: This session is intended to spotlight difference IP blocking scenario around the world, its effects and possible solutions to improve the process

Now a days, IP blocking has become an issue and one of the big topics within the movement when it comes to contributing to free knowledge particularly when contributing to Wikimedia projects. African Wiki communities among other communities around the world has become a victim of this action. We have have heard stories from different event organizers and participants on how IP blocking has been affecting their efforts to contribute to the sum of all knowledge, Wikipedia, and its other sister projects. Recently, we have seen the even difficultness of using WMF tools in running Wiki editathons and workshops due to that in some scenario, both organizers and participants get IP blocked at the same time, something that causes wastage of resources and time, moreover discouragement to new comers. This session intends to bring Wikimedians who can share their stories on IP blocking, how it affected their work, their opinion on the matter as far as the future is concerned and have a conclusive thoughts on how Wikimedians express this matter. This will help the foundation and the Movement at large to do any positive amendments to the IP blocking policy and any other suitable equitable way of making sure people from different communities (especially those who depends on the single or limited number of internet sources) to be able to contribute to the free knowledge ecosystem.

IP block issue is a challenge faced by both old and new editors mostly from the Global South. If we're discussing diversity, I believe that there should be a fair leveled playing ground for everyone to accommodate all our diversity which would in turn encourage collaboration.

This event will be helpful in building conducive environment for people from different backgrounds to be able to contribute to Wikimedia projects and a free knowledge ecosystem
Presented at: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, 2023-08-17 07:30 to 08:15 UTC