This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24519179
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| WH Smith takes website offline after porn e-book scandal | WH Smith takes website offline after porn e-book scandal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WH Smith has taken its UK site completely offline until all abuse-themed e-books are removed from its product listings. | WH Smith has taken its UK site completely offline until all abuse-themed e-books are removed from its product listings. |
| The move comes after last week's revelations that Amazon, WH Smith, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers were selling pornographic e-books featuring incest, rape and bestiality on their sites. | The move comes after last week's revelations that Amazon, WH Smith, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers were selling pornographic e-books featuring incest, rape and bestiality on their sites. |
| WH Smith said it was "disgusted" by such titles and found them "unacceptable". | WH Smith said it was "disgusted" by such titles and found them "unacceptable". |
| It takes e-book content from Kobo.com. | It takes e-book content from Kobo.com. |
| In a statement Kobo said it was "working quickly to review its catalogue and remove the content, authors and publishers in question". | In a statement Kobo said it was "working quickly to review its catalogue and remove the content, authors and publishers in question". |
| "We are also evaluating new procedures to help ensure that this type of content will not become available... in the future," it said. | "We are also evaluating new procedures to help ensure that this type of content will not become available... in the future," it said. |
| Meanwhile visitors to the WHSmith.co.uk website were greeted by a holding page statement. | Meanwhile visitors to the WHSmith.co.uk website were greeted by a holding page statement. |
| The retailer said it had taken the site offline "to best protect our customers and the public". | The retailer said it had taken the site offline "to best protect our customers and the public". |
| "Our website will become live again once all self published e-books have been removed and we are totally sure that there are no offending titles available", it said. | "Our website will become live again once all self published e-books have been removed and we are totally sure that there are no offending titles available", it said. |
| "We sincerely apologise for any offence caused." | "We sincerely apologise for any offence caused." |
| While Kobo said some publishers and authors had violated its self-publishing policies, it maintained that its goal was "not to negatively impact the freedom of expression and the work of the amazing self-published community that has been created at Kobo.com." | While Kobo said some publishers and authors had violated its self-publishing policies, it maintained that its goal was "not to negatively impact the freedom of expression and the work of the amazing self-published community that has been created at Kobo.com." |
| Over the weekend US retailing giant Barnes & Noble said offending titles were "in violation" of its policy on content offered in the NOOK Bookstore and were in the process of being removed. | Over the weekend US retailing giant Barnes & Noble said offending titles were "in violation" of its policy on content offered in the NOOK Bookstore and were in the process of being removed. |
| "When there are violations to the content policy that are brought to our attention, either through our internal process or from a customer or external source, we have a rapid response team in place to appropriately categorise or remove the content in accordance with our policy," it said. | "When there are violations to the content policy that are brought to our attention, either through our internal process or from a customer or external source, we have a rapid response team in place to appropriately categorise or remove the content in accordance with our policy," it said. |
| Self-published e-books have grown massively in popularity along with the growth in digital e-readers and tablet computers, but retailers have been struggling to filter explicit content that breaches their website guidelines. | Self-published e-books have grown massively in popularity along with the growth in digital e-readers and tablet computers, but retailers have been struggling to filter explicit content that breaches their website guidelines. |
| On Friday, technology news site The Kernel revealed how Amazon, Barnes & Noble, WH Smith, Waterstones and Foyles were listing what it called "breathtakingly obscene" books on their websites. | |
| But Fiona Allen, spokeswoman for Waterstones, told the BBC: "None of the e-books mentioned in current reporting are now or ever have been available in Waterstones shops or listed on Waterstones' website." | |
| She admitted that Waterstones was concerned about some print titles and was investigating those, but that all such printed book data was supplied by Nielsen, a data provider. |