The operator of Wikipedia has been instructed by an Indian court to remove statements it considers defamatory from the Wikipedia page of a domestic news agency it hosts. This marks the latest such directive issued to the popular online encyclopedia.
The Wikimedia Foundation has become the second major technology platform, after X (formerly Twitter), to find itself embroiled in court disputes in recent years over orders in India mandating the removal of online content.
Last year, the news agency, ANI, initiated a defamation lawsuit against Wikimedia in the Delhi High Court. ANI cited a Wikipedia description that claimed the agency faced criticism for being a government “propaganda tool” and sought the removal of these statements.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the court stated, “The contested statements are… defamatory and damage the professional reputation of” ANI, and therefore must be removed.
The Wikimedia Foundation has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the ruling or whether it intends to file an appeal.
Reuters, which holds a 26% ownership stake in ANI, also did not respond to a request for comment. The news organization has previously stated that it is not involved in ANI’s business practices or operational matters.
The court will continue to hear the case, in which ANI is seeking damages amounting to approximately 20 million Indian rupees ($240,000) as well as an apology from Wikimedia.
The ruling “affirms the fundamental right to reputation,” Sidhant Kumar, a lawyer representing ANI, told Reuters in a statement.
As a consequence of this dispute, the US-based Wikimedia has raised concerns regarding freedom of speech within the world’s largest democracy.
In October, the same court ordered the removal of a Wikipedia page related to the ongoing dispute, labeling it as “interference in court proceedings.” This prompted Wikimedia to appeal to the Supreme Court in January.
In its filing with the Supreme Court, Wikimedia argued that “the selective and permanent takedown… creates a chilling effect on free speech and restricts access to knowledge.”
X is also currently challenging government orders to block certain posts related to the Indian farmers’ protests that took place in 2021.
