Four Wiki Editors Booked For Not Removing ‘Content’ Against Sambhaji Maharaj

The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has reportedly registered a case against four Wikipedia editors for not taking down ‘objectionable’ content on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj from the open source encyclopedia.

As per PTI, citing officials, the nodal agency had earlier sent notices to the US-based Wikipedia Foundation requesting removal of the content.

The state’s cyber department stated that the information about Sambhaji on the website was inaccurate and can raise law and order situation in the state.

It further said that Sambhaji is the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is revered by the people of Maharashtra. “Misinformation about him could lead to social unrest.”

Maharashtra Cyber Department has registered a complaint against the website under the IT Act, 2021.

The state’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told Free Press Journal that he has directed the Inspector General of the Maharashtra Cyber Cell to get in touch with the officials at Wikipedia and request the removal of the offensive information.

Wikipedia is a free-content platform operated and managed by a close community of volunteers through collaborations.

The development comes on the backdrop of the release of the movie ‘Chavaa’ last week which is based on the life of Sambhaji.

Also, yesterday (February 20), the ministry of information and broadcasting had urged over-the-top (OTT) and social media platforms to adhere to the code of conduct prescribed under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The ministry also asked the latter to not transmit any content which is prohibited by law, undertake age-based classification of content and implement access control mechanisms for ‘A’ rated content so that children have no access to such content.

There has been a huge uproar among people to regulate content on the internet, social media platform and OTT after Ranveer Allahbadia’s inappropriate comment on Samay Raina’s show, ‘India’s Got Latent.’

The Centre has taken action against several digital entities in the past for portraying obscene content on their platform. Last year it blocked 18 OTT platforms, including Uncut Adda, Dreams Films and Prime Play among others, for publishing obscene, vulgar and in some instances pornographic content, after multiple warnings.