Wikimedia must remove ‘defamatory’ India content

Wikipedia webpage in use on a laptop computer is seen in this photo illustration taken in Washington, January 17, 2012. —REUTERS FILE PHOTO

NEW DELHI—The operator of Wikipedia has been ordered to remove statements deemed defamatory by an Indian court from the page of a domestic news agency it hosts, the latest such directive to the popular online encyclopedia.

The Wikimedia Foundation is the second major tech platform, following X, formerly Twitter, to become embroiled in recent years in court battles over content takedown orders in India.

Last year the agency, ANI, sued Wikimedia for defamation in the Delhi High Court, citing a Wikipedia description that it faced criticism for being a government “propaganda tool” and sought removal of such statements.

In an order on Thursday, the court said, “The impugned statements are … defamatory and tarnish the professional reputation of ANI, and should be removed.”

Reuters

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