Key Points
- Wikipedia’s parent company lost its legal challenge to the UK’s Online Safety Act.
- The foundation feared the law would force it to verify the identities of its users.
- Wikimedia warned that this could force them to block most UK users from the site.
- The judge dismissed the case for now but warned regulators not to harm Wikipedia’s operations.
The foundation that runs Wikipedia lost a legal battle on Monday against the UK’s tough new Online Safety Act. Wikimedia was worried the law could force it to verify the identities of its volunteer editors, a move it says would cripple the free encyclopedia.
The UK’s law aims to make online platforms safer, but it has been heavily criticized for potentially limiting free speech. The heart of the issue is whether Wikipedia will be labeled a “Category 1” service. If that happens, it would have to follow the strictest rules, including identifying its users and contributors. Wikimedia argued that this would force them to reduce access for people in the UK drastically.
A London judge dismissed the case for now, but he didn’t give the government a complete victory. The judge said Wikimedia could come back and sue again if the UK’s regulator, Ofcom, actually tries to classify Wikipedia as a Category 1 service. He also warned the government not to implement a system that would “significantly impede Wikipedia’s operations.”
Wikimedia said it was disappointed but welcomed the judge’s warning to the regulator. The UK government, on the other hand, celebrated the ruling, saying it helps them create a “safer online world.”
The Online Safety Act has faced backlash from others, including social media site X and free-speech campaigners, who argue its rules lead to the censorship of legal content. The government maintains that the law is about protecting children and removing illegal material.
