BackOpinion | Wikipedia must stay open
India’s proposed data regulations may leave the online encyclopaedia less reliable
PremiumWikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, is worried that India’s proposed data regulations could have an adverse impact on its open-editing model. In its view, the new rules would impose a financial burden on tech non-profits, and even curtail the right of internet users to express themselves freely. Of particular concern is a proposal to have web content filtered by automated mechanisms. This, it argues, would disrupt how Wikipedia works.
Sure, the online information trove was never foolproof to begin with. Its operational logic rests on its openness to inputs and revisions, with the “wisdom of crowds" pushing it towards accuracy. The idea has clicked, even if patchily so. But if this system is subject to state-run filters, it would lose its claim to open validation. The government need not approve of what appears on Wikipedia to recognize the value of its model. It constitutes an imperfect but valid approach to knowledge gathering. This is the attitude that discerning users adopt towards it. Consult, but verify. To allow such innovations their space, the Centre will be well advised to review the relevant details of its data protection bill.
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