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China to launch Wikipedia rival in 2018 | China to launch Wikipedia rival in 2018 |
(about 17 hours later) | |
China is to launch an online version of its national encyclopaedia next year, to compete with Wikipedia. | China is to launch an online version of its national encyclopaedia next year, to compete with Wikipedia. |
Officials said more than 20,000 people had been hired to work on the project, which will feature 300,000 entries at about 1,000 words each. | Officials said more than 20,000 people had been hired to work on the project, which will feature 300,000 entries at about 1,000 words each. |
Unlike Wikipedia, it will be created by selected scholars from state-run universities rather than being openly editable by volunteers. | Unlike Wikipedia, it will be created by selected scholars from state-run universities rather than being openly editable by volunteers. |
Wikipedia is available in China, but some of its content is blocked. | |
The Encyclopaedia of China "is not a book, but a Great Wall of culture", Yang Muzhi, the editor-in-chief of the project, who chairs the Book and Periodicals Distribution Association of China, said in an update earlier in April. | The Encyclopaedia of China "is not a book, but a Great Wall of culture", Yang Muzhi, the editor-in-chief of the project, who chairs the Book and Periodicals Distribution Association of China, said in an update earlier in April. |
Mr Yang - who has listed Wikipedia as a competitor - also said China was facing international pressure to produce its own platform to guide "the public and society". | Mr Yang - who has listed Wikipedia as a competitor - also said China was facing international pressure to produce its own platform to guide "the public and society". |
The Encyclopaedia of China was first published in 1993, in paper form, with the support of scholars, and released a second edition in 2012. | The Encyclopaedia of China was first published in 1993, in paper form, with the support of scholars, and released a second edition in 2012. |
But critics said the government-funded works omitted or distorted some entries for political purposes. | But critics said the government-funded works omitted or distorted some entries for political purposes. |
The idea for an online version was approved in 2011, but work on it began only recently. | The idea for an online version was approved in 2011, but work on it began only recently. |
It will take the state into direct competition with local companies that have launched their own online encyclopaedias - such as Baidu and Qihu 360, as well as the largest platform, Wikipedia. | It will take the state into direct competition with local companies that have launched their own online encyclopaedias - such as Baidu and Qihu 360, as well as the largest platform, Wikipedia. |
Currently, users on the mainland can read some Wikipedia content, but searches for sensitive topics such as the Dalai Lama and President Xi Jinping are blocked. | Currently, users on the mainland can read some Wikipedia content, but searches for sensitive topics such as the Dalai Lama and President Xi Jinping are blocked. |
Taha Yasseri, a research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, told the BBC: "The need for information in China makes people use Wikipedia through the usual anti-filtering tools, and this is far from ideal for an authoritarian state. | Taha Yasseri, a research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, told the BBC: "The need for information in China makes people use Wikipedia through the usual anti-filtering tools, and this is far from ideal for an authoritarian state. |
"So, this initiative is to attract more users towards the state-approved content." | "So, this initiative is to attract more users towards the state-approved content." |
His colleague Joss Wright, however, said the platform could also offer "a more uniquely 'Chinese' experience that domestic users tend to like". | His colleague Joss Wright, however, said the platform could also offer "a more uniquely 'Chinese' experience that domestic users tend to like". |
'High-quality' authors | 'High-quality' authors |
In an article for a mainland newspaper last year, Mr Yang said Wikipedia's appeal in China was "bewitching". | In an article for a mainland newspaper last year, Mr Yang said Wikipedia's appeal in China was "bewitching". |
But he added: "We have the biggest, most high-quality author team in the world. | But he added: "We have the biggest, most high-quality author team in the world. |
"Our goal is not to catch up, but overtake." | "Our goal is not to catch up, but overtake." |
Last week, Turkish authorities blocked access to Wikipedia within the country without giving a reason. | Last week, Turkish authorities blocked access to Wikipedia within the country without giving a reason. |
In 2014, Russia also announced plans for an alternative version of Wikipedia, with the stated aim of providing better information about the country than was available on the platform. | In 2014, Russia also announced plans for an alternative version of Wikipedia, with the stated aim of providing better information about the country than was available on the platform. |
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