‘Dangerous’: Delhi HC on Wikipedia model

The Delhi High Court on Friday said that it is “dangerous” how Wikipedia functions, considering how anyone can edit pages on the platform, Bar and Bench reported.

“Anybody can edit a page on Wikipedia? What kind of page is this if it is open to anybody (for editing)?...assume it is my name, anybody can abuse me on my page or give false information regarding me or attribute statements,” said Justice Subramonium Prasad, according to Bar and Bench, after Wikipedia’s model was explained.

The court was hearing ANI’s defamation suit against Wikipedia. ANI claims that Wikipedia allowed defamatory edits on its page which earlier referred to the news agency as the government’s “propaganda tool”.

However, Wikipedia’s counsel Jayant Mehta reportedly said that users have to comply with its policies and the law while creating the page or updating information.

“Let’s begin at step zero. It is not like Facebook. It is not social media where you have a page and anybody can do anything. It is an encyclopaedia where any user can add information if it’s worthy. The page is open to editing by anybody and that is how it gains credibility. Every information is required to be cross-reference to source,” Mehta said, according to Bar and Bench.

The high court had earlier issued summons to Wikipedia and ordered it to disclose information about three people who made the edits on ANI’s Wikipedia page. But the Wikimedia Foundation appealed against the disclosure order and the issue is now pending before a Division Bench.

ANI’s application for takedown of the page was heard today by Justice Prasad.

Arguing on behalf of ANI, advocate Sidhant Kumar said that the agency’s page on Wikipedia had become an index of defamation.

Mehta said that ANI has a wrong understanding of Wikipedia’s model. 

After brief submissions, the matter was reportedly adjourned to October 28 after the court found that the reply filed by Wikipedia was not on record before it.

Newslaundry had earlier reported about the alleged defamatory edits. Read here.

Does Wikipedia have control over who writes and edits on its pages? How does it work? Why has the court made such strong remarks? Watch our explainer to understand the case.

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