cleanfeed and wikipedia

[Wendy M. Grossman]

Yes. Users of the relatively small ISPs Merula/Wizards (who share 
connections) began noticing a couple of days ago that Wkkipedia pages 
were being served up as blank (this has now been fixed). So it didn't 
just affect editors.

wg

James Fidell wrote:
> It appears that the IWF have listed some wikipedia URLs, possibly
> because one wikipedia page contained an image of the controversial
> cover of the Scorpions "Virgin Killer" album and as a result UK ISPs
> who use cleanfeed are proxying traffic to wikipedia's European servers.
> Wikipedia edits made by UK users therefore appear to originate from a
> very small set of IP addresses, breaking wikipedia's security model
> somewhat.  An awkward problem, but one for which there are surely
> workable solutions should Wikipedia feel they want to implement them.
> 
> I wonder if the more tricky issue though isn't elsewhere though.  The
> IWF should presumably only be blocking access to content which is
> considered very likely to be illegal in the UK.  If this album cover
> is considered likely to be illegal, or a case went to court and it was
> judged illegal, where does that leave people who may have owned the
> original LP without an issue for perhaps 30 years or more?  Or even,
> say, the Blind Faith album, which must be about 40 years old?
> 
> On the other hand, the ramifications of finding that it is not illegal
> may be far less pleasant.
> 
> James
>