Mailing List Archive

[Wikimedia-l] Re: Block of Wikipedia in Pakistan
Thank you for the update. Please continue to keep us informed.

John S.

Den lör 4 feb. 2023 kl 02:45 skrev Stephen LaPorte <slaporte@wikimedia.org>:

> Hello everyone,
>
> Today, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) ordered that access
> to Wikipedia be suspended in Pakistan. We are urging the Pakistan
> government to restore access to Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects
> immediately
> <https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2023/02/03/wikimedia-foundation-urges-pakistan-telecommunications-authority-to-restore-access-to-wikipedia-in-pakistan/>
> .
>
> This action denies the fifth most populous nation in the world access to
> the world's largest, free online knowledge repository. If it continues, it
> will also deny the world the perspective of the people of Pakistan and the
> benefit of their knowledge, history, and culture.
>
> The Wikimedia Foundation received a notification from the Pakistan
> Telecommunication Authority on February 1, 2023, stating “the services of
> Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours” for failure to remove content
> from the site deemed “unlawful” by the government. The notification further
> mentioned that a block of Wikipedia could follow, if the Foundation did not
> comply with the takedown orders. As of Friday February 3, our internal
> traffic reports indicate that Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects are no
> longer accessible to users in Pakistan.
>
> The Wikimedia Foundation is already examining various avenues and
> investigating how we can help restore access, while staying true to our
> values of verifiability, neutrality, and freedom of information.
>
> We are also prepared to support any members of the Wikimedia communities
> who are impacted. If you or someone you know is contacted by the Pakistani
> government in reference to the block, please contact us at
> legal@wikimedia.org. If you or someone you know is in immediate physical
> danger in reference to the block, please contact emergency@wikimedia.org
> right away. We are actively working to reach out to community leaders in
> the area.
>
> For over twenty years, our movement has supported knowledge as a
> fundamental human right. In defense of this right, we have opposed a
> growing number of threats that would interfere with the ability of people
> to access and contribute to free knowledge. We know that many of you will
> want to take action or speak out against the block. For now, please
> continue to do what is needed to remain safe. We will keep you updated on
> any new developments, actions we are taking, and ways which you can help
> return access to Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects in Pakistan.
>
> Thank you,
> Stephen
>
> --
> Stephen LaPorte (he/him/his)
> General Counsel
> Wikimedia Foundation
>
>
> *NOTICE: As an attorney for the Wikimedia Foundation, for legal and
> ethical reasons, I cannot give legal advice to, or serve as a lawyer for,
> community members, volunteers, or staff members in their personal capacity.
> For more on what this means, please see our legal disclaimer
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Legal_Disclaimer>.*
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