End-user image suppression
This page deals with the technical implications of implementing end-user controlled suppression of potentially offensive images on Wikimedia projects. For discussion of whether it would be desirable, see desirability of end-user image suppression, the February 2005 archive of WikiEN-I mailing list, and Wikipedia:Image censorship.
This page originated from a discussion on the WikiEN-I mailing list where some level of consensus was reached between the free-speech and content suppression parties that a technical solution is possible that will go a long way towards satisfying most mainstream positions in the debate.
Goal
The primary goal would be to give end-users the choice as to whether or not they see certain potentially offensive images by default, thus avoiding their offence and hence minimising the urge of editors to participate in self-censorship while also placating those who would seek to discredit Wikimedia projects based on the adult nature of some content (disclaimers aside).
Basic idea
It would primarily involve ensuring that potentially offensive images are categorised, coupled with some combination of the following:
- a site-based preference option allowing users to remove, hide or show potentially offensive images by default
- a cookie-based preference option allowing users to remove, hide or show potentially offensive images by default
- browser-based filtration (when supported in the future)
- proxy and IP based filtration for organisations such as primary schools, etc. (this option is already possible and wouldn't need any action on our part)
Initial default setting
A default setting for new and anonymous users would need to be chosen, although this may be largely redundant if we use a cookie.
User preference system
An Image Suppression preference section would be created. In this would be a choice to show all images by default. Under that would be the ability to choose amongst categories based on potentially offensive images and then choose to have one of the following happen:
- Hide images (this would create a place-holder that would allow the user to display the image at will)
- Remove images (this would remove any link or placeholder (but not the image from the server of course))
Categorising images
Tagging images would simply involve ensuring that potentially offensive images have all been given categories as per normal procedures.