The operator of on-line encyclopaedia Wikipedia has challenged a New Delhi courtroom’s order to take away statements from its web page that the courtroom stated defamed a home information web site, two sources with direct data of the matter stated on Monday. Final week’s Delhi Excessive Courtroom ruling got here after Indian information company ANI sued the U.S. platform final yr for defamation. ANI stated in its lawsuit it was being described on its Wikipedia web page as an company going through criticism for being a “propaganda instrument” for the federal government and sought removing of such statements.
In its order, the excessive courtroom final week stated “the impugned statements are…defamatory and tarnish the skilled repute of” ANI, and ought to be eliminated. ANI has additionally requested for an apology and 20 million rupees ($240,000) in damages from Wikimedia. The courtroom will proceed to listen to the case. Wikipedia’s operator, Wikimedia, has now sought an attraction towards final week’s order earlier than a bigger panel of judges of the identical courtroom, stated the 2 sources, who sought anonymity as they weren’t authorised to talk to the media. They didn’t give particulars.
The excessive courtroom’s web page confirmed that an attraction was filed by Wikimedia however didn’t give particulars. The attraction got here up earlier than the judges on Monday however was postponed for an additional date which is but to be finalised. Wikimedia and ANI didn’t instantly reply to e-mail messages to hunt remark.
Reuters owns a 26% stake in ANI, and has beforehand stated it’s not concerned in ANI’s enterprise practices or operations.
The Wikimedia Basis is the second main tech platform, following X, to turn out to be embroiled in Indian courtroom battles over orders to take down content material in recent times.
X is individually contesting authorities orders to dam some posts about Indian farmers’ protests in 2021.
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