The Indian government recently issued a formal notice to Wikipedia following concerns about alleged biases and inaccuracies in its content. This action, led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, stems from complaints that Wikipedia’s editorial process may be overly centralized, potentially compromising the platform’s neutrality and credibility. The ministry suggested that Wikipedia could be reclassified as a “publisher” rather than a “neutral intermediary,” as its open-editing model might allow for the spread of defamatory or incorrect information.
This notice follows a recent Delhi High Court defamation case involving the news agency ANI, where edits to ANI’s Wikipedia page led the court to label Wikipedia’s open-editing model as “dangerous.” The court raised concerns that unrestricted modifications might facilitate misinformation. Wikipedia responded by pointing to its established content-verification guidelines but acknowledged that its lack of a central office in India and reliance on volunteers present unique challenges for content management.
This development underscores increasing governmental scrutiny of Wikipedia, particularly around issues of transparency and accuracy, especially when it comes to sensitive topics involving prominent entities.
