Finnish authorities are investigating Wikipedia's donation program, in order to determine whether the online encyclopedia violates domestic legislation.
According to a letter sent by Finnish police and published by the Wikimedia Foundation (the organization behind Wikipedia), authorities have begun investigating the online site's donation program, as well as the Finnish version of the online encyclopedia.
Finnish laws stipulate that non‑profit organizations seeking donations to cover their operating expenses must obtain a special permit from the police in order to ensure greater transparency.
Since Wikipedia has not applied for the relevant license, the police are investigating the case, although it can easily be proven that the website does indeed provide a very great service to the public, with the help of the financial contributions it receives from donations.
