Delhi HC Directs Wikipedia To Take Down Content Against ANI

SUMMARY

ANI’s petition accused Wikipedia of allowing defamatory “edits” on its pages, including references that the news agency acted as a "propaganda tool" for the union government

While pronouncing the order, the Delhi High Court noted that certain prayers have been allowed

Last month, Maharashtra Cyber Cell registered a case against four Wikipedia editors for not taking down ‘objectionable’ content on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

The Delhi High Court (HC) has issued interim directions to Wikipedia to take down alleged “defamatory statements” made against news agency ANI on the online encyclopedia.

As per Bar and Bench, Justice Subramonium Prasad issued the directions while hearing an interim application filed by ANI today. While pronouncing the order, the judge said that certain prayers have been allowed.

The petition accused Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia’s parent, of allowing defamatory “edits” on ANI’s pages, including references that the news agency acted as a “propaganda tool” for the Centre.

This comes four months after the HC, in December 2024, reserved its decision on ANI’s interim application. At the time, the HC noted that it would go through the news articles that formed the basis of the alleged defamatory edits against ANI on Wikipedia.

This followed the court, in July 2024, issuing summons to Wikipedia to disclose information related to the three people that made the edits on ANI’s Wikipedia page. Subsequently, ANI complained to the HC that Wikipedia had not complied with this directive.

Acting on the complaint, the HC took strong objection to Wikipedia’s conduct and issued a notice for contempt of court. However, Wikipedia quickly moved a division bench of the HC to appeal against this.

During the hearing, the divisional bench noted that Wikipedia was hosting a page called “Asian News International vs. Wikimedia“ about the case. The bench took strong objection to the page and ordered Wikipedia to take it down citing the subjudice nature of the matter.

While the digital encyclopaedia has taken down the page, Wikipedia has moved the Supreme Court against the HC’s order. The matter is listed for next hearing before the SC on April 4.

However, this is not the first time that Wikipedia has landed in the crosshairs of Indian authorities. Last month, Maharashtra Cyber Cell registered a case against four Wikipedia editors for not taking down ‘objectionable’ content on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on the platform.