Internet Providers Lift Ban On The Scorpions' Wikipedia Page

Wikipedia users in the UK are able to view the cover of The Scorpions' 1976 album, 'Virgin Killer', again after the Internet Watch Foundation lifted restrictions on the online encyclopaedia.

Access to the German heavy metal band'a Wikipedia entry was blocked last weekend over fears the album cover, which features an image of a naked girl, could be illegal.

As many as 95% of British internet users were unable to access the page after Internet Providers agreed to enforce the ban, prompting a backlash from Wikipedia volunteers, who regularly keep the encyclopaedia up-to-date.

In a statement, the IWF said it had decided to lift the ban after taking into account “the length of time the image has existed and its wide availability”.

They also acknowledged that more people had sought to find the album cover after they imposed the ban.

"IWF's overriding objective is to minimize the availability of indecent images of children on the internet, however, on this occasion our efforts have had the opposite effect,” the statement said.

"We regret the unintended consequences for Wikipedia and its users."

In response, Wikipedia called for greater transparency and accountability to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

The IWF initially reported the image to the police after a reader alerted the Foundation to its existence.

The Scorpions' record sleeve appears on Gigwise's countdown of The Most Controversial Album Covers Ever. See the countdown by CLICKING HERE

Our other album covers countdowns are below:

Best Album Covers Ever!
Worst Album Covers Ever!
Weirdest Album Covers Ever!
Sexiest Album Covers Ever!