The Delhi High Court has recently directed the Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts Wikipedia, to remove allegedly defamatory content from the Wikipedia page of news agency Asian News International (ANI). This order was issued on April 2, 2025, by Justice Subramonium Prasad in response to an interim application filed by ANI as part of a ₹2 crore defamation suit against Wikimedia.
The contentious content on the Wikipedia page described ANI as having been criticized for serving as a “propaganda tool” for the incumbent central government, among other allegations. ANI argued that such descriptions were false and damaging to its reputation.
In response to the High Court’s directive, the Wikimedia Foundation has appealed to the Supreme Court of India, challenging the order to remove the content. Wikimedia contends that complying with the directive would have a “chilling effect on free speech” and restrict access to knowledge. The Supreme Court has acknowledged the matter as pertinent to media freedom and is expected to hear the case on April 4, 2025.
Sources