The Wikimedia Foundation, operator of Wikipedia, has lost a legal challenge in London’s High Court against parts of the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023.
The case focused on the law’s Categorisation Regulations, which could place Wikipedia under “Category 1” — the most stringent requirements for online platforms.
These rules may force Wikipedia to verify contributor identities, a move the Foundation says threatens user privacy, safety, and the open-editing model. The court’s decision allows the regulations to apply, but stressed that Ofcom and the UK government must act cautiously to avoid misapplication.
The Wikimedia Foundation argued that enforcing such duties could expose volunteers to risks including harassment, lawsuits, or persecution in certain countries. Ofcom is expected to outline the next steps for implementation in the coming months.
