The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 5) issued a contempt notice to Wikipedia — the widely used free online encyclopaedia — taking strong objection to its failure to disclose information about those made edits on the entry page of news agency Asian News International.
Irked by the non-compliance of its order in connection with a defamation suit filed by the news agency, the court told Wikipedia not to work in India if it does not like doing so, and that it will ask the central government to block the platform in the country.
Asian News International (ANI) alleged that Wikipedia has failed to comply with orders to disclose information on subscribers who made defamatory edits on its entry page on the platform. “I will impose contempt…It is not a question of Defendant No 1 [Wikipedia] not being an entity in India. We will close your business transactions here. We will ask the government to block Wikipedia…Earlier also you people have taken this argument. If you don’t like India, please don’t work in India,” Justice Navin Chawla was quoted in a report published by Bar and Bench.
In its suit, ANI has alleged that the defamatory edits allowed by Wikipedia referred to the news agency as a “propaganda tool” for the BJP-led government at the Centre. The HC had earlier issued a summons to Wikipedia, ordering it to disclose the names of the three people who made the edits on ANI’s Wikipedia page.
Wikipedia allows the voluntary creation of entry pages and editing around the world, acting as a free online source. Its counsel reportedly told the court that it had to make certain submissions about the court’s previous order and the process was taking time as the platform was based out of India.
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