Modi Govt Issues Notice to Wikipedia Over  Alleged Bias and Inaccuracies

The Narendra Modi-led central government of India has issued a notice to Wikipedia, raising concerns about alleged bias and inaccuracies in its content. The notice questions Wikipedia's editorial control and whether it should be classified as a publisher rather than an intermediary. This move follows complaints from Indian users and a Delhi High Court ruling that criticized Wikipedia's open editing feature as "dangerous".

The government highlighted that a small group of editors appears to have significant control over the content, which could lead to skewed narratives on sensitive topics. The notice is part of a broader effort to regulate online platforms in India and ensure the accuracy and neutrality of Information.

It's a significant development in the ongoing debate about the responsibilities of online platforms in managing user-generated content.

Wikipedia has not yet issued an official statement in response to the Indian government's notice. However, in previous instances, Wikipedia's legal representatives have assured that the platform has established policies to govern user contributions and ensure compliance with legal guidelines. They emphasized that users must adhere to these guidelines when creating or updating content.

In July 2024, news agency ANI filed a defamation lawsuit against Wikipedia in the Delhi High Court. ANI alleged that the Wikipedia page about it contained defamatory content, describing the news agency as a "propaganda tool for the incumbent central government" and accusing it of distributing materials from fake news websites and misreporting events.

The Delhi High Court has ordered Wikipedia to disclose information about the users who made the edits on ANI's page. This case has raised concerns about online free speech in India and the responsibilities of online platforms in managing user-generated content.

Notably, there is an existing research, including the analysis of Wikipedia’s co-founder Larry Sengar, which has detailed how Wikipedia is not neutral.

The research cites three prior researches to bolster its case. Research by the Manhattan Institute published in June 2024 by David Rozado concluded that Wikipedia heavily leans towards the Left.

Beside these development, a very recent dossier published by media outlet, OpIndia, on Wikipedia highlights several concerns regarding the platform's content and editorial practices.

OpIndia alleges that Wikipedia exhibits significant bias against India and Hindus, often blocking corrections perceived as biased against India.

The dossier claims that Wikipedia censors content that does not align with certain ideological perspectives, leading to skewed narratives. It points out that a small group of editors wields significant control over the content, which can lead to biased information.

Moreover, OpIndia raises concerns about the sources of funding for Wikipedia, suggesting potential conflicts of interest. OpIndia also argues that Wikipedia's open editing model lacks accountability, making it difficult to ensure the accuracy and neutrality of content.

These points have contributed to the Indian government's decision to issue a notice to Wikipedia, questioning its status as an intermediary and raising concerns about its editorial practices.

It's a complex situation that highlights the challenges of balancing free speech and accountability on the internet.

Founded on January 15, 2001, by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, Wikipedia is owned by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California. The foundation was established in 2003 to support Wikipedia and its sister projects, such as Wiktionary and Wikibooks. 
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