Russia has fined the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that runs Wikipedia, for refusing to delete a Russian-language article about the country's invasion of Ukraine, according to a report by AP.
The article in question is titled "Russian Occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Region," which refers to one of the four Ukrainian provinces annexed by Russia.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: A mobile device shows Wikipedia's front page displaying a darkened logo on January 18, 2012, in London, England. The Wikipedia website has shut down its English language service for 24 hours to protest the US anti-piracy laws.
Russia Fines Wikipedia
The Russian court fined the Wikimedia Foundation 2 million rubles ($24,464) for not taking down the article, which Russia's state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, had deemed to contain "false information."
AP notes that this is not the first time Russia has targeted Wikipedia for not taking down articles related to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Wikimedia Foundation was fined 2 million rubles in November 2022 for failing to remove "false" information from seven Wikipedia entries that discuss the "special military operation" in Ukraine. This information included details on atrocities in Bucha and the devastation of the theater in Mariupol.
Last week, the same Moscow court fined the Wikimedia Foundation $9,000 for failing to remove content related to a song by the Russian rock band Psychea, which the Russian government considers extremist.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, there has been a wider crackdown on information and dissent against what Putin refers to as Russia's "special military operation" in the neighboring nation.
The Russian government has also made an effort to formally restrict the availability of Western news stories in Russia by censoring several Voice of America sites and the BBC.
Wikimedia's Response
Leighanna Mixter, senior legal manager for Wikimedia, said that the organization had not removed the content in question and would keep challenging the judgments as unjustified.
According to the senior legal manager of Wikimedia, Leighanna Mixter, the organization has received numerous takedown orders that question the accuracy of any information "well-sourced and in line with applicable Wikipedia policies."
She added that this information is improved by volunteer editors with more recent and relevant citations.
The case "does not present any new legal issues," according to Mixter and Wikimedia, which currently has two pending appeals for fines connected to takedown notices for content about the invasion of Ukraine.
Wikimedia will be flagged as breaking Russian legislation by Roskomnadzor in search results, and more action against specific content is also planned.
The most recent sanction against Wikipedia significantly limits information access for the Russian population and silences any reporting or criticism of the raging war.
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