The Delhi High Court has ordered the removal of content declared defamatory on Indian news outlet Asian News International (ANI) from Wikipedia.
The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs the popular online encyclopedia, was taken to court by ANI over statements that the news agency faced backlash for being a “propaganda tool” for the government.
The outlet sought removal of such description from its Wikipedia page, taking legal action against Wikimedia.
On Thursday, the court ruled that the statements carried by Wikipedia are “defamatory” and “tarnish the professional reputation” of the news agency. There has been no comment from Wikimedia so far on whether the organisation will contend the verdict.
In addition, ANI is seeking $240,000 in damages and an apology from Wikimedia.
Both Wikimedia and X, formerly Twitter, have been facing legal troubles in India, with X contending government orders to remove certain posts related to the 2021 farmers’ protests.
Wikipedia has faced censorship woes in Pakistan, too. In February 2023, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) banned the online encyclopedia over content that the regulator labelled “sacrilegious” and “unlawful”. The ban was lifted a few days later on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
