Maharashtra CM wants Wikipedia to correct 'inaccuracies' about Chhatrapati Sambhaji
What's the story
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the state's cyber police to coordinate with Wikipedia over "objectionable" content pertaining to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. His order comes after several organizations raised concerns over alleged historical inaccuracies on the platform, especially after the release of the Bollywood film Chhaava, which depicts the life of Sambhaji, son of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Official statement
CM Fadnavis's stance on historical distortions
Fadnavis has made it clear that he won't tolerate historical distortions on open-source platforms like Wikipedia. "I have asked the Inspector General of Maharashtra's cyber cell to communicate with Wikipedia officials and ask them to remove the objectionable content regarding Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj," he said. The CM also asked officials to take necessary actions against these issues, stressing such misrepresentations are unacceptable.
Content regulation
Fadnavis acknowledges challenges in regulating Wikipedia content
Fadnavis, however, admitted that regulating content on Wikipedia was difficult as it functions globally and is managed by volunteers. "Wikipedia does not operate from India, and it is run by volunteers who edit the content," he said. But he said that they could ask the platform to introduce regulations to prevent such distortions of historical facts in the future.
Regulation and leaks
CM Fadnavis on social media regulation and cabinet leaks
Fadnavis also addressed the larger problem of regulating social media, noting that it gets complicated since there's no geographical jurisdiction. "There is no geographical jurisdiction for social media. We will discuss this matter with the Union government," he said. He also raised concerns over the unauthorized sharing of cabinet agenda documents before meetings and cautioned ministers' offices against it.