08 December 2008
Internet providers in Britain have blocked parts of Wikipedia after accusations that the site was carrying "potentially illegal" images of child pornography.
Providers including Virgin Media and O2's Be Internet service have blocked access to at least one Wikipedia article in response to it being placed on a blacklist by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Britain's online watchdog.
The article focused on German rock group The Scorpions' 1976 cover for the album Virgin Killers. The Wikipedia page showed the controversial cover - an image of a young naked girl with her genitals obscured by a crack in the camera lens.
In a statement, the IWF said the organization had received a complaint saying the page was pornographic, and that after a review they made the decision the page was "potentially illegal."
"As with all child abuse reports received by our Hotline analysts, the image was assessed according to the UK Sentencing Guidelines Council," it said. "The content was considered to be a potentially illegal indecent image of a child under the age of 18..."
At the moment, the article itself is not visible on the Wikipedia page, with blocked users receiving a fake message saying the page could not be found.
The IWF is a self-regulated body that runs the blacklist which largely focuses on images of child abuse.
The IWF uses a censoring system known as Cleanfeed, which was originally launched in 2004 but is now used by most of Britain's main Internet providers.
The page has been the subject of hot debate between Wikipedia editors. Some editors have objected to the use of the image. However, after a discussion the website's administrators determined the original cover image would remain.
The original cover caused controversy when the album was first released, and the album cover was replaced in most countries including the UK soon after.
Wikipedia falls subject to British censorship rules
Internet providers in Britain have blocked parts of Wikipedia after accusations that the site was carrying "potentially illegal" images of child pornography.Providers including Virgin Media and O2's Be Internet service have blocked access to at least one Wikipedia article in response to it being placed on a blacklist by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Britain's online watchdog.
The article focused on German rock group The Scorpions' 1976 cover for the album Virgin Killers. The Wikipedia page showed the controversial cover - an image of a young naked girl with her genitals obscured by a crack in the camera lens.
In a statement, the IWF said the organization had received a complaint saying the page was pornographic, and that after a review they made the decision the page was "potentially illegal."
"As with all child abuse reports received by our Hotline analysts, the image was assessed according to the UK Sentencing Guidelines Council," it said. "The content was considered to be a potentially illegal indecent image of a child under the age of 18..."
At the moment, the article itself is not visible on the Wikipedia page, with blocked users receiving a fake message saying the page could not be found.
The IWF is a self-regulated body that runs the blacklist which largely focuses on images of child abuse.
The IWF uses a censoring system known as Cleanfeed, which was originally launched in 2004 but is now used by most of Britain's main Internet providers.
The page has been the subject of hot debate between Wikipedia editors. Some editors have objected to the use of the image. However, after a discussion the website's administrators determined the original cover image would remain.
The original cover caused controversy when the album was first released, and the album cover was replaced in most countries including the UK soon after.
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