The Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, has filed an appeal challenging an Indian court’s directive ordering the removal of specific content from the online encyclopedia, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The appeal comes after a lower court instructed the platform to take down content deemed objectionable in a pending legal dispute. While details of the specific content or case remain under wraps due to legal sensitivities, the move by the Wikimedia Foundation highlights growing concerns over content regulation and freedom of expression in digital spaces.
Sources close to the development say the foundation is arguing that Wikipedia operates as a collaborative, user-generated platform and should not be held liable for content created and edited by its global community of volunteers. The appeal seeks to protect Wikipedia’s open-edit model and the broader principles of internet freedom.
The case is likely to reignite debate around intermediary liability and the regulatory challenges of balancing free speech with legal compliance, particularly in jurisdictions with evolving content moderation laws.
Further hearings are expected in the coming weeks.
