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Joomla! becomes a “Digital Public Good” – and why that’s really great news

Small blue sphere painted with the continents and featuring many small human figures arranged in several rows around the globe.

Written by Barbara Aßmann

Sometimes there’s news that may seem small at first glance – but actually carries a lot of meaning.
This is one of those moments: Joomla! has officially been recognized as a “Digital Public Good”! 🎉
For those of us in the community, this is more than just a title – it’s a recognition of the passion, openness, and collaboration that define this project. But what exactly does “Digital Public Good” mean, and why is this so important?

What are “Digital Public Goods”?

Digital Public Goods (DPGs) are digital tools, resources, or systems that are open, freely accessible, and available to everyone – similar to a public park or a library, only in digital form.

To the Digital Public Goods Alliance website

The idea originates from the United Nations and aims to promote digital technologies that serve the common good. It’s about ensuring that digital solutions are not reserved for large corporations, but can help everyone – whether in education, healthcare, public administration, or community services.

Officially recognized: Joomla! as a Digital Public Good

The Digital Public Goods Alliance, a UN-backed initiative, regularly evaluates projects based on their openness, security, and contribution to the common good. Joomla meets all of these criteria and has therefore been added to the official register of Digital Public Goods.

This means:

  • The code is open and freely available
  • Joomla! respects privacy and data sovereignty
  • The project is inclusive, sustainable, and accessible worldwide
  • It directly contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Joomla! – open, free, and powered by community

Joomla! is a free and open-source Content Management System (CMS) that allows you to create, design, and manage websites – without expensive licenses or reliance on corporate platforms. Since 2005, Joomla! has been maintained by a global open-source community of developers, designers, translators, and volunteers. Together, they ensure that the system stays secure, up-to-date, and accessible. Whether it's a small nonprofit, a school, or a government agency – Joomla! enables everyone to publish content online.

Why this recognition as a Digital Public Good matters

Joomla!’s recognition as a DPG carries significance far beyond technical aspects:

  • 1. More digital inclusion

    Joomla! enables people everywhere to build websites and online platforms – even where budgets or resources are limited.

  • 2. Trust and transparency

    The UN-backed validation sends a strong message: Joomla! is independent, open, and secure.

  • 3. Digital sovereignty

    Joomla! empowers organizations and governments to remain in control of their data instead of relying on large commercial platforms.

  • 4. Strengthening the community

    Joomla! is not driven by a corporation, but by a dedicated global community. This acknowledgment honors the work of thousands of volunteers who have been shaping a free and open digital world for many years.

Joomla! as a Digital Public Good – a real USP compared to WordPress, Webflow & Co.

For public institutions

Many government bodies are required to use systems that are open, transparent, and sustainable. Joomla! meets these criteria – and now benefits even more from its DPG status.
Joomla! becomes more suitable and legally reliable for public sector use.

For companies with strict compliance requirements

Industries such as pharmaceuticals, insurance, engineering, energy, banking, and academia need systems that are:

  • reliably maintainable
  • transparent thanks to open source
  • stable in the long term
The Digital Public Good recognition gives Joomla! a significant trust advantage.

For GDPR-focused organizations

Those prioritizing strict EU data protection benefit from Joomla! being recognized as a sustainable, open, and regulatory-aligned solution.

Joomla! appears more credible and lower-risk for privacy-sensitive clients.

Accessibility: A core pillar of Digital Public Goods – and one of Joomla!’s strengths

Accessibility plays a central role in the concept of Digital Public Goods. Digital public resources must not only be free and open but truly usable by everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities.

Some important guidelines for accessibility on the web:

  • semantically clean and structured HTML
  • screen reader support
  • clear focus indicators
  • solid keyboard navigation
  • strong color contrasts
  • accessible default templates

Accessibility is not an extra – it is a duty

Joomla! has been a leader in this area for many years. The project actively implements the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and places strong emphasis on making both the frontend and backend accessible.

The Joomla! community even has dedicated accessibility teams that continuously test and improve features.
This fulfills a principle that is essential to all Digital Public Goods:

Software can only be truly “public” if it excludes no one.

For governments, universities, and organizations legally required to provide accessible digital services, this is a major advantage – and an important part of Joomla!'s long-term vision.

Conclusion: Joomla! stands for an open, fair digital future

Joomla!’s recognition as a Digital Public Good is more than just a title – it’s a symbol of what the digital world can and should be: open, collaborative, secure, and accessible to all.

Joomla! shows that technology doesn’t have to be exclusive or complicated; it can be a tool for people – worldwide. And that’s exactly the kind of digital future we need.

Our personal conclusion at COOLCAT creations

For us at COOLCAT creations, this recognition is something truly special. We’ve been part of the Joomla! community for many years – and we see every day how much passion, creativity, and idealism go into this project.

Joomla! being officially recognized as a Digital Public Good confirms what we’ve always known:

Joomla! is more than just a CMS.

It’s an example of what can grow when people around the world work together on something that benefits everyone.

We’re thrilled to see this effort acknowledged on an international level. And it inspires us to keep contributing – as developers, designers, consultants, and community members who believe that open software can make the world a better place.

Thank you to everyone who’s part of this journey – and thank you, Joomla!, for showing us how beautiful real digital community can be.

Click here to see the projects we have implemented with Joomla!
Our references
It's definitely time we get together!