Wikipedia blocks Scientology entries

30 May 2009, 9:33 am   -   Source: AAP
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Wikipedia has blocked the Church of Scientology from editing entries at the online encyclopedia due to an unrelenting battle over the group's image.

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Wikipedia has blocked the Church of Scientology from editing entries in the communally written online encyclopedia due to an unrelenting battle over the group's image.

A "long-standing struggle" between admirers of Scientology and critics prompted Wikipedia on Thursday to bar online edits from computer addresses "owned or operated by the Church of Scientology and its associates".

An array of editors believed to have taken sides in a battle over Scientology's public image on the site have also been barred from tinkering with topics related to the church.

"Each side wishes the articles within this topic to reflect their point of view and have resorted to battlefield editing tactics," senior Wikipedia editors said in an arbitration committee report.

"The worst casualties have been biographies of living people, where attempts have been repeatedly made to slant the article either towards or against the subject, depending on the point of view of the contributing editor."

A church spokeswoman played down the ban, saying the Wikipedia arbitration committee is part of a routine process for handling conflicts at the website.

"Do Scientologists care what has been posted on Wikipedia? Of course," said Karin Pouw. "Some of it has been very hateful and erroneous. We hope all this will result in more accurate and useful articles on Wikipedia."

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