Wikipedia has lost its legal challenge against parts of the UK’s Online Safety Act, a law that could force the site to verify the identities of its volunteer editors.

The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, argued that these new rules — meant to regulate big social media companies — unfairly lump the online encyclopaedia into the strictest “Category 1” group. That classification would require identity checks for contributors, something the foundation says would harm privacy and put volunteers’ safety at risk.

To avoid being in Category 1, Wikipedia would either have to block about 75% of UK users or shut down key site functions — options it says are not realistic.

The High Court ruled against Wikimedia, but the judgment made it clear that this wasn’t a “blank cheque” for regulators. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, will still have to consider carefully whether Wikipedia should be classified in the strictest category, and future legal challenges remain possible if that happens.

Phil Bradley-Schmieg, Wikimedia’s lead counsel, said the court recognised the need to protect the site’s operations. Legal experts note that the ruling “leaves the door open” for Wikipedia to be exempt from the tougher rules after review.

For now, Wikipedia remains caught in the debate over how to make the internet safer while protecting online freedom and anonymity.