The SCP-173 Controversy: Why The Original 'Secure Contain Protect' Image Was Permanently Removed

The enigma of "secure contain protect 173" represents the very foundation of the SCP mythos, yet as of , the item's most iconic visual identity has been permanently erased. This concrete and rebar sculpture, known simply as SCP-173, was the first anomaly ever documented in the collaborative horror universe, setting the standard for all that followed. Its simple, terrifying rule—don't blink—cemented its status as the ultimate "Weeping Angel" of the internet age.

However, the biggest recent update surrounding this Euclid-class entity is a non-anomalous, real-world crisis: a major copyright conflict. The original, instantly recognizable image that defined the object for over a decade was officially removed from the SCP Foundation wiki, forcing the entire community to confront the legacy of its most famous creation and sparking a massive, ongoing search for an acceptable replacement.

The Original Anomaly: SCP-173 Profile and Containment

SCP-173, designated as a Euclid-class object, is the cornerstone of the entire Foundation universe. It was the first file posted to the 4chan /x/ paranormal board in 2007, which subsequently launched the collaborative writing project now known as the SCP Foundation. Its sheer simplicity is what makes it so terrifying, and its profile has remained largely unchanged despite the massive expansion of the lore.

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• Item #: SCP-173
• Object Class: Euclid
• Primary Location: Moved to Site-19 in 1993.
• Composition: Constructed from concrete and rebar, with traces of Krylon brand spray paint.
• Anomalous Property: It is immobile when directly observed. Line of sight must not be broken at any time when personnel are inside its containment chamber.
• Lethality: It moves at incredible speeds when not observed and kills by snapping the neck or strangulation. The scraped concrete and rebar are believed to be a mixture of feces and blood.
• Containment Procedures: Item SCP-173 must be kept in a locked container at all times. When personnel must enter, a minimum of three (3) persons are required, and two must maintain direct eye contact with SCP-173 at all times.

The original file is considered sacrosanct by many Foundation personnel and fans alike. Despite the existence of thousands of other anomalies—from the predatory SCP-096 to the corrosive SCP-106—SCP-173 remains the benchmark for pure, unadulterated horror. The phrase "Secure, Contain, Protect" (S.C.P.) is intrinsically linked to the entity that first defined the Foundation's mission.

The Real-World Containment Breach: Copyright and Creative Commons

The biggest recent development is the removal of the original image, which occurred due to a licensing disagreement. This event is a critical piece of recent Foundation history, overshadowing any fictional containment breach logs.

The Izumi Kato Sculpture

The image that terrified millions of readers was not an original piece of fan art. It was a photograph of a sculpture titled *Untitled 2004* by the Japanese artist Izumi Kato. For years, the image was used without formal licensing, existing in a gray area of internet culture. The problem arose because the SCP Wiki operates under the Creative Commons Share-Alike (CC BY-SA 3.0) license.

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This license stipulates that any work built upon the SCP Foundation's content must also be freely shareable and usable by others. The original sculpture, however, was not released under a compatible license. The Foundation, wanting to maintain its legal integrity and its collaborative, open-source nature, was eventually forced to remove the image to avoid potential legal issues and infringement claims.

The removal was a profound moment for the community. It highlighted the real-world constraints on a fictional universe built on the principles of free sharing and collaboration. The Foundation's internal personnel, including D-Class personnel used for testing and Agents deployed in the field, may have seen the image, but the public-facing wiki can no longer display it.

The Search for a New Face: Community and Canon Updates

The fallout from the image removal has led to an unprecedented, community-wide effort to redefine the look of the Foundation's original anomaly. This debate is the most current and relevant discussion point for "secure contain protect 173."

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The Design Dilemma

The challenge is immense: how do you replace an image that has been intrinsically linked to the entity's description for over a decade? The original image was unsettling precisely because it was crude and simple—a bizarre, peanut-shaped figure. Any new design must adhere to the original document's physical description: concrete and rebar construction, with traces of spray paint, and the ability to move and kill instantly when unobserved.

The community has seen a massive influx of fan-made redesigns, each attempting to capture the original's elusive horror. Some of these new SCP-173 models have even been adopted in popular video games like *SCP: Containment Breach* or *SCP: Secret Laboratory*, leading to ongoing controversy among fans who feel no new design can ever replace the original.

The Headcanon and Lore Expansion

The removal has inadvertently led to a fascinating lore update: the concept of "headcanon" for SCP-173's appearance has become canonical. Because the image is gone, the entity’s description is now purely text-based, allowing every reader to visualize their own nightmare. This aligns perfectly with the Foundation's core theme of the unknown and the terror of imagination.

Furthermore, the removal has spurred new "Tales" and "Canons" that explore the nature of the sculpture. One popular tale suggests that the sculpture was created by a woman who encased her husband's corpse in concrete and rebar, giving it a gruesome, human origin story. Other logs detail massive containment breaches, such as a temporary site-wide blackout where SCP-173 escaped, or even logs suggesting multiple instances of SCP-173 working in unison to achieve a breach.

Topical Authority: Exploring the SCP-173 Ecosystem

To truly understand SCP-173 and its place in the lore, one must look at the entities and terminology that define its existence within Site-19 and the wider Foundation structure. The entity is a prime example of the Foundation's operational complexity.

• D-Class Personnel: Often used in the dangerous containment procedures for SCP-173, these disposable personnel are crucial for testing and maintenance, usually in groups of three to ensure continuous line of sight.
• Keter-Class Entities: While SCP-173 is Euclid (meaning its containment is possible but not foolproof), the Foundation deals with far greater threats like Keter-class anomalies, which are near-impossible to contain. The threat of SCP-173 breaching containment is often linked to the potential for a cascading failure involving other, more dangerous entities.
• The O5 Council: The mysterious governing body that oversees all Foundation operations, including the continued containment of SCP-173 at Site-19. Their decisions dictate the protocols for all anomalies, from the simplest object to a potential SCP-001 "World Ender" scenario.
• MTF (Mobile Task Forces): Specialized military units, often deployed to re-establish containment after a major incident like an SCP-173 containment breach.
• Dr. Clef and Dr. Bright: Famous Foundation characters whose logs and stories often intersect with the original anomalies, providing a human element to the terror of entities like SCP-173.

The story of "secure contain protect 173" is no longer just about a killer statue; it is a meta-narrative about community, copyright, and the power of shared imagination. The image is gone, but the fear—and the enduring legacy of the first SCP—remains stronger than ever, proving that sometimes, the most terrifying thing is the image you create in your own mind.