India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a notice challenging Wikipedia’s intermediary status, citing concerns over bias, editorial control, and inaccuracies on the platform. The ministry’s notice follows a heated legal battle in the Delhi High Court, where judges labeled Wikipedia's open-editing model "dangerous" and questioned whether the platform, which functions with a volunteer editor base, should retain legal protections typically granted to neutral intermediaries.
The high court is reviewing a defamation case from news agency Asian News International (ANI), which claims Wikipedia allowed defamatory content labeling it as a government “propaganda tool.” As part of the proceedings, Justice Navin Chawla has pressed Wikipedia to reveal the identities of specific contributors, despite the platform's lack of a physical presence in India. In a stark warning, Chawla stated that non-compliance could lead to a contempt charge, stressing the importance of adherence to Indian law.
While Wikipedia argues its content policies ensure neutrality and accountability, Indian authorities are increasingly skeptical of its ability to self-regulate. Prominent tech policy commentator Nikhil Pahwa has criticized the government’s stance, asserting that current IT law does not warrant such action based on Wikipedia’s operational structure alone.
%20(1).jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)