As of December 2022, Google searches for "current caliph of Islam" or similar phrases may incorrectly display the Wikipedia page for Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
On February 1 2023, Wikipedia was blocked in Pakistan for 48h in part because of these search results and Wikipedia's inability to do anything about them.[1][2] This became a permanent block on February 3, 2023[3] before being lifted on February 6, 2023 by order of Pakistan's Prime Minister.[4][5]
What happened?
- This issue is caused by Google's algorithms incorrectly interpreting Wikipedia's article on the Ahmadiyya Caliphate. This misinformation does not come from Wikipedia, nor is it something that Wikipedia can fix.
How can this be fixed?
- You can report this issue via the "Feedback" button on the Google search results page. Do not post on Wikipedia; there is nothing Wikipedia can do, and such posts only waste everyone's time.
Notes
- ^ "PTA degrades Wikipedia services for not blocking 'sacrilegious content'". The Express Tribune. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ Sarkar, Shankhyaneel (2023-02-03). "'Remove Sacrilegious Content or Face Ban': Pakistan Telecom Body Tells Wikipedia". News18. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Blasphemous content: Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan". Geo News. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Main, Nikki (2023-02-06). "Wikipedia Briefly Banned in Pakistan for 'Blasphemous' Content". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "PM orders immediate restoration of Wikipedia across Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.