New Delhi: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has ordered the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, to remove allegedly defamatory content from the online encyclopedia’s page on Indian news agency ANI.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit ANI filed last year, accusing Wikipedia of damaging its reputation by describing the agency as a government ‘propaganda tool.’
ANI demanded the removal of such characterizations, as well as an apology and ₹20 million (approximately $240,000) in damages.
The court declared that “the impugned statements are… defamatory and tarnish the professional reputation of ANI,” and should be taken down. The case is part of a broader debate on free speech and platform responsibility in India, the world’s largest democracy.
The dispute has drawn comparisons to similar legal challenges faced by other major tech companies in India. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is fighting government orders to block posts related to the 2021 farmers’ protests.
In October, the Delhi High Court ordered the removal of a Wikipedia page tied to the ANI controversy, calling it “interference in court proceedings.” Wikimedia then moved the matter to the Supreme Court, citing concerns over judicial overreach and censorship.
As the case proceeds, it raises critical questions about balancing reputation protection with the principles of free expression and open access to information- issues that continue to test the boundaries of India’s rapidly evolving digital regulatory framework.
