Wikileaks reveals that Wikimedia is actively censoring stories on Wikinews

[mandy]

Wikimedia censorship #1

Wikinews suppressed article on Barbara Bauer vs. Wikipedia case

Suppressed Wikinews article about Barbara Bauer vs. Wikimedia Foundation from May 9, 2008. The article was deleted immediately prior to publication by the Wikimedia Foundation head office (not by the author or the Wikinews editorial team).

Wikinews and Wikipedia are legally and physically controlled by the "Wikimedia foundation" (no relation to Wikileaks).

The US Communications Deceny Act section 230 grants providers of internet services (such as the Wikipedia and Wikinews) immunity from legal action related to user generated content provided the board does not exercise pre-publication control.

In deleting the article prior to publication, the Wikimedia foundation appears to have set a dangerous precedent that could remove all of its CDA section 230 immunity (at least for Wikinews, where the control was exercised). The suppression of the article appears to have been motivated by the Wikimedia Foundation board wishing to keep certain details of the Barbara Bauer case secret...

full article and copy of the deleted WikiNews article: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Wikinews_suppr...pedia_case

Wikimedia censorship #2

Wikinews suppressed Wikipedia pornography investigation

Suppressed Wikinews investigative article about pornography on Wikipedia from the week of May 12, 2008. The article was deleted immediately prior to publication by the Wikimedia foundation head office (not by the author or the Wikinews volunteer editorial team). It is believed the article was deleted because it did not promote Wikimedia, although the excuse used to do so, by Wikimedia counsel Michael Godwin was that it might be defamatory....

full article and copy of the deleted WikiNews article: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Wikinews_suppr...estigation