The Government of India has issued a notice to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia amid its ongoing legal dispute with a news agency in the country. The Government has raised concerns about Wikipedia, citing multiple complaints of bias and inaccuracies on the platform. According to sources, the Government has also highlighted that a small group appears to have editorial control over the website.
Wikipedia is currently involved in a legal dispute with the news agency Asian News International (ANI) over allegations of “defamatory” content. ANI claims that a paragraph in its Wikipedia description falsely labels the agency as “a propaganda tool for the incumbent government” and accuses it of “distributing material from fake news websites.” ANI has requested that the page be removed.
Wikipedia presents itself as a free online encyclopedia, allowing volunteers to create and edit pages on a wide range of topics, including personalities, issues, and various subjects. However, the popular platform is currently embroiled in legal disputes in India, facing accusations of publishing inaccurate and defamatory content.
Govt of India puts Wikipedia on notice. Govt writes to Wikipedia pointing out many complaints of bias and inaccuracies in Wikipedia, points out a small group having editorial control and asks why Wikipedia shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2024
On September 5, the Delhi High Court issued a contempt notice to Wikipedia, expressing strong disapproval of its failure to provide information about those who made edits to the ANI entry page. Annoyed by Wikipedia’s non-compliance with its order in a defamation suit filed by the news agency, the court warned that if the platform continued to defy its directives, it would request the Union Government to block Wikipedia in India.
In the latest hearing on November 1, the court challenged Wikipedia’s claim of being a “free encyclopedia” and stressed that, as an “intermediary” rather than a “publisher,” Wikipedia should be obligated to provide requested information.
Amid rising criticism of its alleged bias and inaccuracies, particularly during the ongoing US presidential elections, Wikipedia has faced increasing scrutiny. Elon Musk, owner of X and a billionaire entrepreneur, publicly accused Wikipedia of promoting far-left ideologies. Musk also called on the public to stop donating to the platform, claiming it is controlled by “far-left activists.”
