Wikipedia offered to submit Basic Subscriber Information (BSI) details of users who edited the ANI page to the Delhi High Court in a sealed format.
Wikipedia, represented by Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, outlined a proposal to share BSI information under specific conditions. This compromise would allow the court access to user data without fully revealing individual identities to ANI.
In addition, Wikipedia agreed to serve notices to the users involved, notifying them and ANI while protecting sensitive personal information, reports Bar and Bench.
To maintain a privacy-oriented approach, Sibal suggested that a consent order could be issued, allowing Wikipedia to disclose only the necessary details while preserving user anonymity. This approach is particularly relevant given Wikipedia’s standing as a public information platform, where contributors often depend on anonymity to edit content freely.
The ongoing legal dispute began when ANI filed a defamation suit against Wikipedia, claiming that the platform allowed content that misrepresented ANI as a “propaganda tool” for the government.
ANI argued that the page presented an inaccurate portrayal that tarnished its journalistic integrity. The news agency has not only requested the removal of defamatory content but also sought monetary damages from Wikipedia.
Central to ANI’s legal argument is the assertion that Wikipedia, a widely accessed and relied-upon platform, should function like a public utility, upholding accountability standards higher than those of private entities.
This stance has raised questions about the role and responsibilities of online platforms in regulating user-generated content.
At a previous hearing, ANI intensified its push for Wikipedia to remove the contentious entry altogether. The presiding judge criticized Wikipedia’s open-editing model, labelling it potentially “dangerous.”
In a related directive, the court previously ordered Wikipedia to take down an article covering the defamation proceedings, considering it infringing on the judicial process. Failure to comply also led to a contempt of court notice, escalating the case’s significance.
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