Wikipedia loses challenge against Online Safety Act verification rules

Source: BBC

Wikipedia loses challenge against Online Safety Act verification rules

11 August 2025

Chris Vallance
Senior technology reporter

Wikipedia has lost a legal challenge to new Online Safety Act rules which it says could threaten the human rights and safety of its volunteer editors.

The Wikimedia Foundation - the non-profit which supports the online encyclopaedia - wanted a judicial review of regulations which could mean Wikipedia has to verify the identities of its users.

But it said despite the loss, the judgement "emphasized the responsibility of Ofcom and the UK government to ensure Wikipedia is protected".

The government told the BBC it welcomed the High Court's judgment, "which will help us continue our work implementing the Online Safety Act to create a safer online world for everyone".

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr11qqvvwlo