Wikipedia boss blasts IWF censorship

 

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Posted on 9 Dec 2008 at 14:35

Jimmy Wales has blasted the Internet Watch Foundation's decision to ban a page on Wikipedia displaying a naked young girl.

The entry in question was for the album Virgin Killer. The cover art for the album is a photo of a provocatively posed naked girl, which was added to the IWF's blacklist after being reported to the organisation.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Wales argued "The Internet Watch Foundation was clearly over-reaching its remit when it blocked the text page on Wikipedia - there's nothing illegal about the description of the album. I'd also question its wisdom about trying to block the image itself."

Alongside its appearance on Wikipedia the picture also appeared on numerous other sites including Amazon, though it has now been pulled down.

The IWF claims it can only act when a site is reported, as Wikipedia was, but the decision enraged Wales: "It's clearly unfair and reprehensible for the IWF to go after some websites and not others. People are so up in arms now.

"As a result of its actions, the image is actually being seen by more people, it's appearing on thousands of blogs today. It will continue to be passed on. What is it going to do? Is it going to block all of the web if it continues to be spread?"

Wales's point is backed up by our own research, which revealed the story pushed around 22,000 people to the Virgin Killer article in a single hour yesterday.

The IWF is currently considering its stance on the Wikipedia entry.

Author: Stuart Turton