Wikipedia blocks Scientologists from editing entries

The Church of Scientology has been banned from editing Wikipedia entries as the battle over the controversial religion's public image rages online.

The community-edited online encyclopaedia yesterday banned online edits from computer addresses "owned or operated by the Church of Scientology and its associates" as admirers and critics of the church struggle to sway opinion.

Other editors believed to have taken sides in the Scientology PR war have also been banned from working on topics around 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 arbitration committee findings backing the decision.

"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 downplayed the move.

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

- © Fairfax NZ News