Wikipedia loses legal challenge calling for OSA judicial review
11/08/2025 | BBC News
The Wikimedia Foundation has lost a legal challenge in the High Court that could result in Ofcom classifying Wikipedia as a Category 1 service under the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA). The Foundation had sought a judicial review, arguing the rules were too broad, logically flawed, and could force it to verify the identities of its volunteer editors, thereby threatening their privacy and safety.
The High Court rejected the challenge, a decision welcomed by the government. However, the judgment stressed the responsibility of Ofcom and the UK government to ensure Wikipedia is protected. Legal experts noted that the court's decision does not give Ofcom a "green light" to implement a regime that would significantly impede Wikipedia's operations, and that the door remains open for further legal challenges should the site ultimately be classified as Category 1.
The Foundation had previously suggested that to avoid the classification, it may need to cut its UK user base or disable key functionality.
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