Online sources such as Wikipedia are based on a crowd-sourced and user-generated editing model and is not totally reliable and can encourage incorrect information, the Supreme Court has said on January 17.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Surya Kant acknowledged the usefulness of platforms that allow open access to knowledge throughout the world but advised against utilising such sources for judicial conflict resolution.
“We say so for the reason that these sources, despite being a treasure trove of knowledge, are based on a crowd-sourced and user-generated editing model that is not completely dependable in terms of academic veracity and can promote misleading information as has been noted by this court on previous occasions also,” the bench said.
The Apex Court stated that courts and adjudicating bodies should make effort to urge counsel to depend on more genuine and reputable sources.
The remarks were made in a decision concerning the proper categorisation of imported ‘All in One Integrated Desktop Computers’ under the First Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act of 1985.The Supreme Court also observed that adjudicating agencies, particularly the Commissioner of Customs (Appeal), relied heavily on internet sources such as Wikipedia to support their judgments.
The Apex court also noted that Wikipedia is an online mode of encyclopedia and information can be entered therein by any person and as such, it may not be authentic.In 2010, former Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju referenced to Wikipedia for searching meaning of the word “common law marriage” while delivering a verdict.
Justice Markandey Katju had made information available on Wikipedia the basis for formulating a four-point guideline and ruled that live-in relationships must satisfy it to be categorised as a “relationship” in the nature of marriage under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
Notably, Wikipedia is a free, open content online encyclopedia created through the collaborative effort of a community of users known as Wikipedians. Anyone registered on the site can create an article for publication; registration is not required to edit articles.
Interestingly, Wikimedia, which operates Wikipedia on January 18 launched the first major update to its desktop interface in 10 years. The revamped desktop interface comes a time when English Wikipedia is celebrating the completion of its 22nd year.
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