A PYMNTS Company

UK Court Rejects Wikipedia’s Challenge to Online Safety Law

By  |  August 11, 2025

The operator of Wikipedia has failed in its bid to overturn parts of Britain’s Online Safety Act, after a London court rejected claims that the legislation could severely hinder the site’s operations.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    According to Reuters, the Wikimedia Foundation brought the case to the High Court, arguing that regulations under the law could place Wikipedia in the toughest compliance category. Under so-called Category 1 rules, platforms would have to verify the identities of their users and contributors — a step the foundation said would drastically cut the number of UK visitors able to access or edit the site.

    On Monday, Judge Jeremy Johnson dismissed the challenge but noted the foundation could bring another case if the UK communications regulator Ofcom “impermissibly” decides to classify Wikipedia as a Category 1 service. Per Reuters, Johnson stressed that his ruling “does not give Ofcom and the Secretary of State a green light to implement a regime that would significantly impede Wikipedia’s operations.”

    The Wikimedia Foundation said the outcome “does not provide the immediate legal protections for Wikipedia that we hoped for” but welcomed the court’s emphasis on Ofcom’s and the government’s responsibility to safeguard the platform. Britain’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology hailed the decision, saying it would support ongoing efforts to implement the Online Safety Act and “create a safer online world for everyone.”

    Ofcom stated it will “continue to progress our work in relation to categorized services.” The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, has faced criticism from free-speech advocates and social media companies, including X, which earlier this month said the law requires major revisions.

    Supporters of the legislation, including the British government, argue that it is essential for protecting children and removing illegal material online.

    Source: Reuters