Overview

• The High Court dismissed the Wikimedia Foundation’s judicial review challenge to the Category 1 regulations under the UK Online Safety Act, with Mr Justice Johnson finding no legal grounds to block the rules.
• Judge Jeremy Johnson said Wikimedia could mount a fresh appeal if regulator Ofcom wrongfully designates Wikipedia as a Category 1 service subject to identity-verification requirements.
• The Online Safety Act requires platforms to enforce strict measures to protect children and remove illegal content, a framework the UK government defends as essential for online safety.
• Wikimedia warned that Category 1 duties would impose mandatory user verification, which it argues would drastically shrink its volunteer contributor base and hamper site access.
• Free-speech campaigners have argued that the Act’s broad implementation risks censoring lawful expression, and Ofcom’s forthcoming register of designated services marks the next critical step.