WordPress censorship

  • Resolved judgedredd

    (@judgedredd20)


    3 years, 8 months ago

    There are at least two websites that I know of that have been taken offline by WordPress for ‘violating WP terms and conditions’. These are:
    [ links removed, this is about “censorship” and not links ]

    My question is if one downloads the WP CMS system from ww.wp.xz.cn where are the terms and conditions for how to use it? On one of the pages there itvstates that one can use it for anything. Really? So why we’re the above sites censored?

    One can look up on archive.org what these sites were – they provided alternative information (NOT disinformation as some would strive to have you believe), and nothing else.

    So what would happen to a site that downloaded WP from ww.wp.xz.cn and had similar alternative info?

    At the moment I am telling all my clients not to use WordPress or get off WordPress (I have numerous clients whom I have done this with). So clarity on this censorship point is required.

    • This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by judgedredd.
    • This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by judgedredd.
    • This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Jan Dembowski.
Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    3 years, 8 months ago

    ww.wp.xz.cn does not providing hosting for sites, it provides the software for other people to build their own sites on their own hosts. WordPress’ philosophy and bill of rights permit people to use WordPress software for any reason they want, without any enforcement over legality or illegality. We leave that up to the webhosts. In cases of theft, abuse, harassment, or other such behavior, your best recourse is to contact their web host directly. You can use WHOIS to determine where they’re hosted, as well as resources like https://www.whoishostingthis.com to find relevant information.

    Also note that your site was hosted at wordpress.com. That’s a separate company –a *hosting* company — not ww.wp.xz.cn.

    Thread Starter judgedredd

    (@judgedredd20)

    3 years, 8 months ago

    I understand that ww.wp.xz.cn doesn’t provide hosting but the two, ww.wp.xz.cn and WordPress.com are related, are they not?

    You still haven’t really answered the censorship question though.

    On sites that are private (independent of WordPress.com, in that sites are not hosted there) but use the WordPress software (downloaded from Wordpres.org) there is absolutely NO censorship of content?

    Whereas using WordPress on the WordPress.com platform there is because one is using the platform and therefore it’s a service being provided by WordPress.com and WordPress.com can therefore limit what content is shown?

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by judgedredd.
    • This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by judgedredd.
    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    3 years, 8 months ago

    See https://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/article/wordpress-vs-wordpress-com/ and https://learn.ww.wp.xz.cn/lesson/what-is-the-difference-between-wordpress-org-and-com/

    No one here is censoring you. Period. ww.wp.xz.cn doesn’t care what you build with the software nor does it have any means of censoring your use of it.

    Moderator Samuel Wood (Otto)

    (@otto42)

    ww.wp.xz.cn Admin

    3 years, 7 months ago

    Whereas using WordPress on the WordPress.com platform there is because one is using the platform and therefore it’s a service being provided by WordPress.com and WordPress.com can therefore limit what content is shown?

    Yes, of course, they can and do. One of the most obvious examples is it doesn’t allow porn. You’ll find that is the case for a lot of hosting services, they limit content on their systems. I wouldn’t call it “censorship”, but yes, they do that.

    On sites that are private (independent of WordPress.com, in that sites are not hosted there) but use the WordPress software (downloaded from Wordpres.org) there is absolutely NO censorship of content?

    Nope. The WordPress software is free for any use whatsoever. We don’t have the ability to “censor” or otherwise block content. But you don’t have to take our word for it. The WordPress software is open source, and free to read, use, even modify. You can read the source code and see for yourself that we don’t have that ability.

    Thread Starter judgedredd

    (@judgedredd20)

    3 years, 7 months ago

    Dear Steven and Samuel,

    Thank you very much for the thorough response. I had no idea that ww.wp.xz.cn and WordPress.com were two separate and individual entities. Thanks for clarifying that and for confirming that there is no censorship on a private site when using WP.

    These answers have initiated a complete change in my thinking about WordPress (when downloaded from ww.wp.xz.cn).

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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