New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (Sep 5) gave an earful to Wikipedia for withholding information about edits on news wire agency, Asian News International's (ANI) Wikipedia page. The bench issued a contempt of court notice to the popular and free online encyclopaedia for failing to comply with its orders. 

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Justice Navin Chawla presiding over the case said the court could ask the central government to block Wikipedia in the country if it didn't abide by the rules.  

“We will not take it anymore. If you don't like India, don't work here,” the court declared. 

“I will impose contempt. 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."

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The court also summoned an authorised representative from Wikimedia Foundation Inc, the organisation behind Wikipedia, to appear in person during the next hearing in October. 

Prior to Thursday's hearing, the HC had ordered Wikipedia to disclose information about three people who made edits on ANI's page. However, the company's counsel failed to provide any data. 

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What did ANI allege? 

The lawsuit filed by ANI stated that the Wikipedia page falsely accused the wire agency of serving as a propaganda tool for the BJP government

"ANI has been criticised for having served as a propaganda tool for the incumbent central government, distributing materials from a vast network of fake news websites, and misreporting events," read the Wikipedia description. 

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ANI added that Wikimedia, through its officials, had actively participated in removing the edits to reverse the content.

“Thus, the conduct of Defendant No. 1 has resulted in a loss of its safe-harbour protection under section 79(1) of the Act, and made it liable for hosting and publishing defamatory content,” the suit states.

In the petition, ANI sought to prevent Wikipedia from publishing such content while claiming damages worth Rs 2 crore ($238,133). 

(With inputs from agencies)