The Centre on Tuesday put Wikipedia on notice over multiple complaints about bias and inaccuracies on the platform. In a letter to the internet encyclopaedia, the government highlighted that a small group of editors appears to have significant control over content, potentially influencing its neutrality, sources said.
The government, according to sources, has questioned why Wikipedia should not be classified as a publisher, rather than an intermediary.
Neither the government nor Wikipedia has issued an official statement on the matter so far.
Wikipedia, known as a free online encyclopedia, allows volunteers to create and edit pages on a wide variety of topics, including people, issues, and various fields of knowledge.
This recent scrutiny comes nearly two months after the Delhi High Court criticised Wikipedia and warned it of a potential ban in India during a case filed by news agency Asian News International (ANI), which claimed its Wikipedia page contained inaccuracies and defamatory content.
In the latest hearing on November 1, the court questioned Wikipedia’s assertion of being a "free encyclopedia" and emphasised that, as an "intermediary" rather than a "publisher," Wikipedia should provide the necessary information when requested.
Wikipedia has faced growing criticism for alleged bias and inaccuracies, especially amid the ongoing US presidential elections. Elon Musk, owner of X and a billionaire entrepreneur, has publicly accused Wikipedia of supporting far-left ideologies. Musk also urged the public to stop donating to Wikipedia, claiming it is controlled by "far-left activists."
