Wikipedia’s ‘complicated’ relationship with network neutrality

Wikipedia, the Internet's biggest encyclopedia, is a lot like other major sites on the Web: It's been a little hesitant to weigh in on network neutrality, the idea that all Web traffic should be treated equally by Internet service providers such as Comcast or Time Warner Cable. That's because the folks behind Wikipedia actually see a non-neutral Internet as one way to spread information cheaply to users in developing countries.

With Wikipedia Zero, users in places like Pakistan and Malaysia can browse the site without it counting it counting against the data caps on their cellphones or tablets. This preferential treatment for Wikipedia's site helps those who can't afford to pay for pricey data -- but it sets the precedent for deals that cut against the net neutrality principle.