Wikipedia loses UK legal battle over online safety rules

The Wikimedia Foundation has lost a legal challenge against parts of the UK’s Online Safety Act, which introduces stringent new rules for online platforms and has faced criticism for potentially restricting free speech.

The foundation took its case to London’s High Court, arguing that regulations under the law could place Wikipedia in the highest risk category, known as Category 1 duties, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

These duties would require verification of the identities of Wikipedia’s users and contributors, which the foundation said could force it to significantly limit access for users in the UK.

On August 11, Judge Jeremy Johnson dismissed the challenge but noted that the Wikimedia Foundation could raise further legal action if the regulator Ofcom “(impermissibly) concludes that Wikipedia is a Category 1 service”.

He also cautioned that his ruling “does not give Ofcom and the Secretary of State a green light to implement a regime that would significantly impede Wikipedia's operations”.

The Wikimedia Foundation said the ruling “does not provide the immediate legal protections for Wikipedia that we hoped for”, but welcomed the court’s remarks highlighting “the responsibility of Ofcom and the UK government to ensure Wikipedia is protected”.

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology did not immediately comment. Ofcom said it would “continue to progress our work in relation to categorised services”.

The Online Safety Act became law in 2023 and is being introduced this year. It has drawn criticism from platforms such as social media site X, which recently called for significant reforms. Free speech advocates and content creators have also raised concerns that the law’s broad application has led to the censorship of lawful content.

The UK government maintains that the legislation aims to protect children and remove illegal material. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has stated that those seeking to overturn the law are “on the side of predators”.

By Aghakazim Guliyev