Russia is trying to block Wikipedia

Russia has ordered several internet service providers to block Wikipedia, BuzzFeed News reports. The call comes after a court in a remote village ordered Wikipedia to take down one specific page — about charas, a hashish form of cannabis common in India. Wikipedia's volunteer editors do not often take down articles.

The court decision only applied to the one page, not the entire site. However, Russia's communications watchdog said, reportedly without elaborating, 30 percent of providers would only be able to block that page if the site in its entirety is blocked.

Of course, Russia is no stranger to blocking — and threatening to block — websites. Pages critical of President Vladimir Putin are subject to bans, as is a vast array of other content deemed controversial.

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