The founder of Wikipedia has told Channel 4 News that he is
considering challenging the decision to block access to part of
Wikipedia in the UK.
Criticising the Internet Watch
Foundation (IWF) for blocking access in order to prevent UK
users from viewing an image of a naked pre-pubescent girl taken in
1976, Jimmy Wales said IWF's actions have actually exposed more
people to the image as it spreads throughout the web. The image in
question was on the cover of an album by German rock band The
Scorpions.
The
block has also meant that millions of users in the UK are now
unable to edit the encyclopaedia's pages.
Commenting for the first time since most internet service
providers in Britain blocked part or all of Wikipedia, Wales told
Channel 4 News, "My first thoughts when I was told that the IWF had
blocked the Wikipedia page was that we should take them to
court.
"But because they're not a statutory body, I've been told we
can't necessarily challenge their decision."
The government has said that it expects all internet service
providers (ISPs) to block sites on the IWF's blacklist. Wales said
Wikipedia is still considering its position.
"The IWF 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 in trying to
block the image itself," he said.
"There's no question that it's a dodgy picture, but it's an
artistic protest made many years ago. But my concern isn't so much
about the image it's the ambiguous way that [the IWF] is behaving,"
he added.
When asked if it was unfair to single out Wikipedia, when not
taking action against other websites, including major retailers,
that are also publishing the image, Wales said, "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 the IWF's 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 added, "How do we draw up a boundary line that allows both
routine internet expression and not paedophilia? The IWF system has
been in operation for a number of years. Is it out of date?"