Indian government issues notice to Wikipedia accusing it of bias and inaccuracy, accusing a 'small number of editors of negatively influencing certain topics'



On November 5, 2024, the Indian government criticized

the Wikimedia Foundation , which runs the online encyclopedia Wikipedia , for 'potential influence over certain topics by a small group of editors' and filed complaints about bias and inaccuracies on the platform.

India issues notice to Wikipedia over concerns of bias | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/05/india-issues-notice-to-wikipedia-over-concerns-of-bias/



Wikipedia gets notice from IB ministry; asked why it should not be treated as a publisher - Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/wikipedia-gets-notice-from-ib-ministry-asked-why-it-should-not-be-treated-as-a-publisher/articleshow/114974749.cms

Indian government issues notice to Wikipedia over bias and inaccuracies - CNBC TV18
https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/indian-government-issues-notice-to-wikipedia-over-bias-and-inaccuracies-19504067.htm

Wikipedia Under Scrutiny! Indian Govt Issues Notice Over Bias, Demands Answers on Editorial Control
https://www.dnpindia.in/nation/wikipedia-under-scrutiny-indian-govt-issues-notice-over-bias-demands-answers-on-editorial-control/518706/

In July 2024, Asian News International filed a lawsuit against the Wikimedia Foundation, alleging that the Wikipedia article had defamed the organization, after the English Wikipedia page of the Indian news organization stated that the organization 'acts as the de facto public relations arm of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and spreads pro-government and anti-Pakistan propaganda and fake news.'

Subsequently, the English Wikipedia article on the lawsuit between the press and the Wikimedia Foundation was blocked worldwide following an order from the Delhi High Court in India.

Wikipedia article about lawsuit filed against Wikimedia Foundation suspended by court order - GIGAZINE



Asian News International has accused the Wikimedia Foundation of publishing false and defamatory material with the malicious intent of discrediting and discrediting the news agency, and is seeking damages of 20 million rupees (approximately US$36 million) from the Wikimedia Foundation and the editing of the article.

Additionally, India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has notified the Wikimedia Foundation of its concerns that 'a small group of editors may be exerting influence on certain topics, which could lead to biased information.'




One of Wikipedia's features is its 'open editing model,' which allows anyone with access to the Internet to edit articles. This openness allows people around the world to share knowledge and promote the construction of the platform. However, in October 2024, the Delhi High Court criticized Wikipedia's open editing model, saying it is 'dangerous' because it could lead to the spread of false or misleading information. It also pointed out that the ability of anyone to edit articles could undermine the platform's credibility for important information about people and organizations.

The Indian government's notice raises the question of whether Wikipedia should be considered a 'publisher' rather than just a 'platform.' Normally, platforms do not have to be held responsible for the content posted by their users. But if Wikipedia were considered a publisher, it could be subject to strict rules, including facing legal liability for biased content or misinformation.

On the other hand, the Wikimedia Foundation's lawyers argued that 'We encourage editors to follow certain standards and actively remove harmful content. Anyone can edit articles on Wikipedia, but we have a system in place to verify that the information is trustworthy.' However, the Indian government and courts remain concerned about the extent to which these rules are followed and whether there are enough editors to ensure the veracity of the information. In September 2024, Justice Navin Chawla of the Delhi High Court harshly criticized Wikipedia, saying, 'If you don't like India and don't want to comply with Indian regulations, stop operating in India. We intend to ask the government to block Wikipedia in India.'

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