Dear Saqib, If you receive press enquiries, you can ask journalists to email [email protected] and our external communications team will provide them with the relevant information. They don’t usually post statements on long-running issues like traffic disruptions unless there's more clarity on what is happening and why.
Thanks, Benedict Udeh (he/him) On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 12:16 PM Saqib Qayyum <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Mr. Stephen LaPorte > > Thank you for commenting. > > Recently, I have been in contact with several journalists who have > expressed their interest in covering this issue and have been attempting to > reach out to WMF for an official statement. but unfortunately, they have > reported difficulty in obtaining any response from WMF despite their > repeated efforts. As a result, they are unable to proceed with their > stories without an official statement from WMF. > > I wanted to inquire if we can expect a statement or a press release from > WMF explicitly addressing the Commons blockage ? Providing clarity on this > matter would not only assist journalists in their reporting but also help > prioritize efforts to unblock the website. > > -- > Saqib Qayyum > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Saqib > > > On Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 10:23 PM Stephen LaPorte <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> I am Stephen LaPorte, the General Counsel at the Foundation. >> >> We have received reports that Wikimedia Commons has been partially >> inaccessible in Pakistan—depending on the user's Internet Service >> Provider—for multiple years, starting as early as 2021. My understanding is >> that it does not affect the display of images on Wikipedia, and it predates >> the blocking and unblocking >> <https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2023/02/03/wikimedia-foundation-urges-pakistan-telecommunications-authority-to-restore-access-to-wikipedia-in-pakistan/> >> of Wikipedia in February 2023. >> >> We have not received any formal notice or a recent legal demand related >> to Wikimedia Commons, so we do not know on what grounds the site is >> partially inaccessible or how many people have been affected since this >> started. Overall, traffic to Wikimedia Commons from Pakistan before 2020 is >> too low to establish a clear pattern that shows when this started or the >> extent of the disruption. All these factors have made understanding the >> situation difficult and require a balanced response, and we remain >> committed to knowledge access in the country. >> >> After Yaroslav reported >> <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Village_pump/Archive/2023/07#Is_Wikimedia_Commons_blocked_in_Pakistan?> >> not being able to access the site last year, we investigated further. We've >> shared information about this situation with other organizations that >> monitor internet censorship and advocate for internet freedom in Pakistan. >> >> We believe that access to knowledge is a human right, and we oppose >> internet censorship in all forms. We believe that limiting access to >> projects like Wikimedia Commons deprives people of access to important >> historical and educational content and makes it more difficult for local >> volunteers to share their media with the world. >> >> If you experience censorship of the Wikimedia projects, you are welcome >> to report this directly to the Wikimedia Foundation at < >> [email protected]> and we can help route the question to the right >> technical experts within the Foundation. >> >> Best, >> Stephen >> >> On Wed, Mar 20, 2024 at 10:06 AM Yaroslav Blanter <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> My understanding is that only Commons is currently blocked in Pakistan. >>> >>> In July 2023, when I visited, I could (and did) edit Wikipedia and >>> Wikivoyage in several languages, as well as Wikidata. To be honest I did >>> not try Urdu Wikipedia, but I guess if it were blocked in Pakistan we would >>> know this. >>> >>> My impression from the communication with WMF I described earlier was >>> that they learned about the Commons block from me. I might be wrong of >>> course. >>> >>> Best >>> Yaroslav >>> >>> On Wed, Mar 20, 2024 at 5:14 PM Risker <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Could someone please explicitly state which Wikimedia projects are >>>> blocked in Pakistan? This thread starts around the blocking of Commons, >>>> but information provided by James Heilman implies that (at least one point) >>>> ALL Wikimedia projects are blocked. So, to be clear, are Wikipedias also >>>> blocked? Other projects? Understanding the extent of the block will help >>>> the broader community to best assist our Pakistani colleagues in continuing >>>> to contribute, and for helping the broad Pakistani citizenship to access >>>> our work. >>>> >>>> It may be helpful for someone from the WMF who is in a position to >>>> report to tell us exactly which projects are currently blocked, and whether >>>> or not any of the originally blocked projects have now had blocks lifted. >>>> >>>> Risker/Anne >>>> >>>> Risker/Anne >>>> >>>> On Wed, 20 Mar 2024 at 11:21, Saqib Qayyum <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I remember this statement was issued when Wikipedia was briefly >>>>> blocked last year. >>>>> -- >>>>> Saqib Qayyum >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Mar 20, 2024 at 7:54 AM James Heilman <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Here is the press release from Feb 3, 2023 from the WMF urging >>>>>> Pakistan to unblock Wikimedia Projects. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2023/02/03/wikimedia-foundation-urges-pakistan-telecommunications-authority-to-restore-access-to-wikipedia-in-pakistan/ >>>>>> >>>>>> Appears the reason has to do with religious content >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> https://netblocks.org/reports/wikipedia-restricted-in-pakistan-over-alleged-sacrilegious-content-nAg35pAp >>>>>> >>>>>> James >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 6:40 PM Neurodivergent Netizen < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> IP block exemption is already automatically granted to admins, at >>>>>>> least on the English Wikipedia; it’s rarely needed enough that further >>>>>>> automatic exemption doesn’t really make sense. VPNs, typically costing >>>>>>> money, aren’t an accessible workaround, anyways. Let’s redirect >>>>>>> attention >>>>>>> back to getting Commons unblocked. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From, >>>>>>> I dream of horses >>>>>>> She/her >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mar 19, 2024, at 2:40 PM, Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It's intriguing (to me) to contemplate how the notion of restricting >>>>>>> IP editing in specific circumstances is often viewed as a violation of >>>>>>> principle, even when supported by examples or data, yet a restriction >>>>>>> like >>>>>>> requiring long-standing users to jump through hoops just to use a VPN >>>>>>> for >>>>>>> privacy—something standard nowadays—is considered necessary and >>>>>>> acceptable. >>>>>>> Both policies aim to address issues while weighing the pros and cons and >>>>>>> inevitably curbing some degree of freedom. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Personally, I question the efficiency of the VPN restriction. I hold >>>>>>> a different perspective: implementing a one or two-year, 100-500-edit >>>>>>> registration threshold for automatic exemption of registered users seems >>>>>>> reasonable. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Nevertheless, it's important to recognize that nothing is inherently >>>>>>> necessary; these are always political and not technical choices. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It's not just vandals ruining it; it's also the approach taken. By >>>>>>> granting trolls immense power to disrupt everyone's activities, you fuel >>>>>>> their mischief. Thus, every time these extreme measures are enforced and >>>>>>> standardized, they inevitably lead to wasted time and endless debates >>>>>>> about >>>>>>> the status quo, and regular users pay a price. Not hypothetically, for >>>>>>> real.... we know. Whoever prioritizes the pursuit of trolls and vandals >>>>>>> over the work of regular users, de facto feeds the troll. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It's important to clarify: as seasoned users, many of us have kinda >>>>>>> learned to navigate this "mess" and endure it... similar issues >>>>>>> have been grappled with for years, Commons management shows little sign >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> improvement and we just don't care anymore. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> However, for those who haven't mastered it or are stuck in some >>>>>>> nationwide quagmire as this one, suggesting VPNs as a solution is >>>>>>> impractical—unless you anticipate tens of thousands of users from a >>>>>>> country >>>>>>> with millions of inhabitants to individually request IP exemptions. It's >>>>>>> evident that the log of such a system would not be sustainable. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I remain skeptical that an alternative solution will be implemented, >>>>>>> given the likelihood that the approach will mirror that of the VPN case >>>>>>> or >>>>>>> other instances—utilizing massive and/or indefinite self-referential >>>>>>> strict >>>>>>> measures that are seldom evaluated on the long term with some metrics. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Il martedì 19 marzo 2024 alle ore 20:24:15 CET, Neurodivergent >>>>>>> Netizen <[email protected]> ha scritto: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/5BTBH6H4PEHX7CCUBYKUDKDXDC3VOAX5/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> Unfortunately, there’s a history of an overwhelming amount of >>>>>>> vandals using VPNs to, well, vandalize Wikipedia, hence the block on >>>>>>> known >>>>>>> VPN and the bureaucracy surrounding them. If the block is removed, it’ll >>>>>>> quite likely become a problem again. It really is a situation of people >>>>>>> behaving poorly ruining it for everyone. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From, >>>>>>> I dream of horses >>>>>>> She/her >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mar 19, 2024, at 12:17 PM, Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> That doesn't seem logical or fair. If a user is registered and not >>>>>>> already blocked, the IPs they are using shouldn't matter at all. >>>>>>> Personally, I've never used a VPN before I got it this way (even >>>>>>> living in the PRC), but I understand that some people might need to do >>>>>>> so >>>>>>> for privacy reasons. So, this restriction should be removed. Registered >>>>>>> users should have the freedom to access the platform how they want. If >>>>>>> there's an issue with a specific user, it's more appropriate to block >>>>>>> their >>>>>>> username rather than restricting their access when logged in based on IP >>>>>>> addresses. Adding more bureaucracy isn't the solution if there isn't a >>>>>>> problem to begin with. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In any case, nothing will probably change. But please don't say that >>>>>>> VPN is a solution. People have already enough problems that adding more >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> more passages. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Il martedì 19 marzo 2024 alle ore 19:51:42 CET, Neurodivergent >>>>>>> Netizen <[email protected]> ha scritto: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A few years ago, I acquired a VPN as part of an antivirus package. >>>>>>> However, when I tried to use it for other services, I encountered an >>>>>>> unexpected issue switching on wiki platforms: despite being there as a >>>>>>> registered user, I found myself unable to edit them. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> So how can VPN be a solution? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Right, you would’ve had to use IP block exemption, which would >>>>>>> require some level of trust from the community that you aren’t a vandal >>>>>>> or >>>>>>> other blocked user trying to circumspect said block. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From, >>>>>>> I dream of horses >>>>>>> She/her >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mar 19, 2024, at 11:23 AM, Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Why is there so much discussion about using VPNs as a solution? A >>>>>>> few years ago, I acquired a VPN as part of an antivirus package. >>>>>>> However, >>>>>>> when I tried to use it for other services, I encountered an unexpected >>>>>>> issue switching on wiki platforms: despite being there as a registered >>>>>>> user, I found myself unable to edit them. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> So how can VPN be a solution? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Il martedì 19 marzo 2024 alle ore 18:17:52 CET, Saqib Qayyum < >>>>>>> [email protected]> ha scritto: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello Mr James >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Certainly, using a VPN is a workaround, but it's worth noting that >>>>>>> obtaining an IP block exemption is still necessary to edit Commons, and >>>>>>> this is not always feasible for all users. Many may not even be aware of >>>>>>> its existence. For instance, I couldn't edit Commons since October 2020 >>>>>>> until I discovered the option for IP ban exemption. . >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And because of this, contributions to Commons from Pakistan have >>>>>>> significantly dwindled. For instance, I recall organizing Wiki Loves >>>>>>> Monuments Pakistan from 2014, where we used to receive thousands of >>>>>>> images >>>>>>> annually. However, in recent years, the number of uploads has >>>>>>> drastically >>>>>>> declined, with only a maximum of 100 photos being uploaded each year. >>>>>>> This >>>>>>> trend underscores the challenges Pakistani users face in accessing and >>>>>>> contributing to the site. >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Saqib Qayyum >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:55 PM James Heilman <[email protected]> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Can you not just use a VPN? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> James >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:29 PM Saqib Qayyum <[email protected]> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I am writing to you as a concerned volunteer from Pakistan regarding >>>>>>> a critical issue that has been persisting for several years now. Despite >>>>>>> multiple attempts to communicate this matter to members of the WMF's >>>>>>> communication team, there has been a disappointing lack of response or >>>>>>> acknowledgment. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> For the past several years, Commons has been blocked in Pakistan. >>>>>>> While Wikipedia was briefly blocked last year, the swift response from >>>>>>> both >>>>>>> Pakistani and international news media led to its unblocking. However, >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> blockade of Commons, being a less prominent site in comparison, has gone >>>>>>> largely unnoticed. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Furthermore, several journalists I have spoken to have also >>>>>>> expressed frustration over their attempts to reach out to WMF staff >>>>>>> regarding this issue, only to receive no response. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I urge the WMF to prioritize this matter and take immediate action >>>>>>> to address the ongoing blockage of Commons in Pakistan. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Saqib Qayyum >>>>>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Saqib >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/H5SMMTKRTUI5QLDKOCLZNWCABGDK3UHL/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> James Heilman >>>>>>> MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/53DBHAHGEAWIH5VI2X7YMEWYSWDHCBXM/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/SPUJHE3YFDHS2OBQT6KTJOFK7WOSGDZF/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/RPS6LSQ7DFBOI2FVML4F2TYTKEUVPSFQ/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/CMD6ZMRBLVEYSLR7A5OREASGAJPPTB6T/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/RWXA44WQNH2K4PVXLSDHCTBGQ3PR4JF7/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/EJI2VJIUIR2NGW7IDPL3GR6DOUQHEG7S/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/DQLOG7SVBJAOXKG67FGAYJOM5MYBXSCG/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> James Heilman >>>>>> MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/D4SZTUNQ3LKSP7OPLKXXLRSXZMO2YJKB/ >>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>> guidelines at: >>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>> Public archives at >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/UMZO7ZQ34JUEIPWGQFBLL25TZB3UUHGX/ >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/73YAZYWM6MVXM6OWLKKADNAYYQSNACGU/ >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines >>> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>> Public archives at >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/MZFHLGTN6OXF55AXFKEBFUBZNEBPKAYH/ >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> >> >> >> -- >> Stephen LaPorte (he/him/his) >> General Counsel >> Wikimedia Foundation >> >> >> *NOTICE: This message may be confidential or legally privileged. If you >> have received it by accident, please delete it and let us know about the >> mistake. 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. 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