Once again Wikipedia users in the UK can view the cover of the Scorpions' 1976 album, Virgin Killer, after a child pornography watchdog lifted its ban on the entry.
As previously reported, the Internet Watch Foundation blocked access on the weekend to the Wikipedia article displaying the German band's infamous artwork, which depicts a naked pre-teen girl. As a result of the block, as many as 95 percent of British internet users were prevented from editing the Wikipedia site and some users were blocked from accessing Wikipedia altogether.
In a statement, the IWF said it decided to lift the ban and take it off the organization's blacklist after taking into account "the length of time the image has existed and its wide availability." The nonprofit also said that more people had attempted to view the album cover after the ban was enforced by UK ISPs.
"IWF's overriding objective is to minimize the availability of indecent images of children on the internet; however, on this occasion our efforts have had the opposite effect," the statement said. "We regret the unintended consequences for Wikipedia and its users."
Wikipedia has responded by calling for greater transparency and accountability to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
As of press time, the controversial Virgin Killer cover has still been removed from Amazon U.S., who faced a similar ban from the IWF.
The Scorpions "Wind Of Change"
As previously reported, the Internet Watch Foundation blocked access on the weekend to the Wikipedia article displaying the German band's infamous artwork, which depicts a naked pre-teen girl. As a result of the block, as many as 95 percent of British internet users were prevented from editing the Wikipedia site and some users were blocked from accessing Wikipedia altogether.
In a statement, the IWF said it decided to lift the ban and take it off the organization's blacklist after taking into account "the length of time the image has existed and its wide availability." The nonprofit also said that more people had attempted to view the album cover after the ban was enforced by UK ISPs.
"IWF's overriding objective is to minimize the availability of indecent images of children on the internet; however, on this occasion our efforts have had the opposite effect," the statement said. "We regret the unintended consequences for Wikipedia and its users."
Wikipedia has responded by calling for greater transparency and accountability to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
As of press time, the controversial Virgin Killer cover has still been removed from Amazon U.S., who faced a similar ban from the IWF.
The Scorpions "Wind Of Change"
