Italian Wikipedia blocks all access Options

[Adrignola]

The users of the Italian Wikipedia have blocked all read and write access to http://it.wikipedia.org in protest of a possible law that is being discussed in the Italian Parliament.

News: http://www.businessinsider.com/italy-wikip...tapping-2011-10

Foundation-l thread: http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/wiki/foundation/252490

The page all users are redirected to (English version):

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Com...ottobre_2011/en

[SB_Johnny]

Apparently the God-King approves:

I'm supportive. I think the Italians are moving rather more quickly than we would, and making a more dramatic gesture than we would, but that's ok: they're Italians and that's awesome. Their interpretation of the law is correct, based on reports I have from various people, and so it's worthwhile to make the point really BIG in Italy, and around the world: freedom of expression matters, if the world wants to have Wikipedia.--Jimbo Wales (talk) 21:51, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

Because, you know, "they're Italians and that's awesome". Yup, lots of hot brunettes in Italy. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/evilgrin.gif)

[Michaeldsuarez]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454060507:

I'm told that this was under discussion in the Italian community for months, and I trust that they are just as analytical and thorough as we are, so I don't think they got the law wrong, nor took the action lightly. However, they didn't let me know or the Foundation know or other communities know, so it wasn't possible to get them wider support and more "eyes on the problem" beforehand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454081456:

I think it's safe to say that, in the main, the advice the Foundation is getting is mainly from the Italian Wikipedia community. I think it's safe to say that, no, the Foundation is not well-informed on the matter, and that they received no advance warning. I consider that to be sub-optimal, obviously, but second-guessing the community in the midst of a breaking news story would send a really false signal.

Jimbo and the WMF apparently believes anything Wikipedians tell them without checking the facts or investigating.

Meanwhile, some Wikipedians are trying to figure out what's the law is about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454055761

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454149652

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454134810

I'm unfamiliar with Italian law and the proposed law, so I won't comment on who's right or wrong, but I think it's safe to say that the Foundations is making a mistake by not doing some legal research before making statements and taking sides.

This post has been edited by Michaeldsuarez:

[Michaeldsuarez]

Meanwhile, some Wikipedians are trying to figure out what's the law is about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454055761

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454149652

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454134810

I'm unfamiliar with Italian law and the proposed law, so I won't comment on who's right or wrong, but I think it's safe to say that the Foundations is making a mistake by not doing some legal research before making statements and taking sides.

More:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454204900

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=454099232

Meanwhile, the Italians are apparently trying to work out the kinks in their bill:

http://www.linkiesta.it/wikipedia-law

This post has been edited by Michaeldsuarez: