Many restaurants have signs that say “Free Wi-Fi,” but that doesn’t mean that someone named “Wi-Fi” is in jail. A jocular comment was posted on Reddit—Jokes on September 10, 2017:
   
“Dunno what this WiFi dude did, but I’ve seen a ton of bars and restaurants demanding his freedom lately.”
 
The “Free Wi-Fi” joke has been cited in print since at least 2011. “I pass places written ‘Free WiFi’ n am always like, why is WiFi in jail?” was posted on Twitter on March 19, 2011. “Free Wifi! He’s been in prison too long!” was posted on Twitter on October 31, 2011.
   
   
Wikipedia: Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or WiFi (/ˈwaɪfaɪ/) is a technology for wireless local area networking with devices based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, which restricts the use of the term Wi-Fi Certified to products that successfully complete interoperability certification testing.
 
Devices that can use Wi-Fi technology include personal computers, video-game consoles, phones and tablets, digital cameras, smart TVs, digital audio players and modern printers. Wi-Fi compatible devices can connect to the Internet via a WLAN and a wireless access point. Such an access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 20 meters (66 feet) indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can be as small as a single room with walls that block radio waves, or as large as many square kilometres achieved by using multiple overlapping access points.
       
Twitter   
• Rhino • 1 •‏
@IamMuts_R
RT @Marv9Kanyoro: I pass places written ‘Free WiFi’ n am always like, why is WiFi in jail?
5:27 AM - 19 Mar 2011
 
Twitter
Brandon Poythress‏
@BrandonBWES
I see all the signs saying “Free WiFi”.
1. Who is this WiFi?
2. What are they in jail for?
AND
3. How do we free him/her?
2:16 PM - 10 May 2011
 
Twitter
Paul Bartunek‏
@paulbartunek
Free Wifi! He’s been in prison too long!
5:59 PM - 31 Oct 2011
 
Twitter   
Greg Kubin‏
@kubeans
“FREE WIFI” - relative of some guy in jail whose last name is WiFi
11:34 AM - 31 Dec 2011
 
Twitter
Jesse Harmon‏
@TheJesseHarmon
Who’s this Wifi guy, and why is he in jail? I see so many signs nowadays saying “Free Wifi!”
4:33 PM - 30 May 2012
 
Twitter
matt warner‏
@themattwarner
Everyone always has those “Free whoever” t-shirts on for whoever dumb rapper is in jail. I want a “Free WiFi” shirt.
11:42 PM - 1 Aug 2012
 
Twitter           
JB‏
@jaygryndz
If I had a t-shirt on that said “Free WiFi” people would probably think one of the homies was in jail lol
4:14 PM - 4 Apr 2013
 
Twitter
Rukes‏
@rukes
Replying to @B666S
@B666S is wifi still in jail? FREE WIFI!
4:52 PM - 7 May 2013
 
Twitter
Chandi C‏
@cherry_bby4
Sign says “free wifi”. He said “man I didn’t know wifi was in jail.  Free Wifi!!” Lmaoooo
6:41 PM - 28 Jul 2013
   
Twitter
Julian Lee‏
@JulianLeeComedy
Just seen a sign saying Free WiFi. I didn’t know my Irish cousin, William Fitzpatrick, was in prison never mind he had a cool hip hop name.
4:43 AM - 18 Apr 2014
 
Twitter
Magnus Ingvarsson‏
@mort_devious
Who is this WiFi and why is he in prison? #free_wifi
7:05 AM - 27 Sep 2014
 
Twitter
gravedoggy‏
@Kbeets_Gravedog
What about a shirt that says ‘Free WiFi’ wit a picture of a sad little WiFi behind bars
7:41 AM - 31 Jan 2015
 
Twitter
Becky Bastard‏
@ChiBastard
Why haven’t I seen a business hang a “free wifi” sign with an image of wifi behind bars? Because that shit would make me giggle.
12:08 PM - 18 May 2016
 
Twitter
Sade‏
@sadeism_
I keep seeing signs everywhere sayin Free Wifi. Who the fucks Wifi and why’s he in jail?
3:35 AM - 7 Jun 2017
 
Twitter
rosé‏
@RoseConway_
at starbucks and my dad goes “free wifi? i didn’t know he was in jail” loud enough for other people to hear. i’m ready to go now, dad, thx
2:20 PM - 7 Sep 2017
 
Reddit—Jokes
Dunno what this WiFi dude did
submitted September 10, 2017 by -Kiwi-Man-
But I’ve seen a ton of bars and restaurants demanding his freedom lately
 
Twitter
Nitish Shekhar‏
@nitzrulzx412
Dunno what this WiFi dude did
9:04 AM - 10 Sep 2017
 
Twitter
Haha.Cafe 🤣  ☕️‏
@hahadotcafe
Dunno what this WiFi dude did
https://haha.cafe/dunno-what-this-wifi-dude-did/ …
#Joke #Haha #Funny #HahaCafe
10:00 AM - 10 Sep 2017
 
Twitter
Best of Reddit‏
@BestoReddit
Dunno what this WiFi dude did : But I’ve seen a ton of bars and restaurants demanding his freedom lately
11:39 AM - 10 Sep 2017
 
Twitter
MattLeMatt- 🐸‏
@MattLeMatt
Don’t know what this wifi guy did. But I’ve seen a ton of bar and restaurants demanding his freedom lately #jokes
5:48 PM - 10 Sep 2017