UPDATE — On 10 July 2026 , the Wikimedia Foundation was notified by Ofcom that Wikipedia is not currently deemed a Category 1 service under the Online Safety Act (OSA). However, as part of that announcement, Ofcom informed the Foundation that Wikipedia will remain on a “watch list” of platforms that do not currently qualify as Category 1 services, but that could become Category 1 at any point in the future, should Ofcom choose to reassess its decision.

While the Foundation is relieved by Ofcom’s agreement that Wikipedia is not a Category 1 service, future Category 1 designation remains an existential threat to Wikipedia, open knowledge, and the privacy and safety of the global community of volunteers who create the information on the site. Without any clear and sustainable limits to categorization, Wikipedia remains vulnerable should Ofcom choose to reassess its decision.…