Doug PollardNO INTERNET CENSORSHIP
October 28th 2008 11:40
The Australian government is about to introduce a two tier internet censorship regime.
Filters will be applied to block content the government deems to be illegal. You CANNOT opt out of this filtering - these sites will not be available to Australian residents (until your children teach you how to circumvent it)..
A second filter will provide what is called a 'clean feed' - websites will be filtered based on key words etc., so for example no pornography will get through. You can REGISTER to opt out of this level of filtering. The idea is to protect children from content the government deems 'inappropriate'.
You can register your opposition to this proposed legislation by joining this group on Facebook Really Long Link or go to nocleanfeed.com.
There are several things wrong with BOTH parts of this proposed censorship.
Although the 'illegal' blocked content will be based on a published list of material that contravenes Australian law, there is nothing to prevent this or any future government from adding to that list, or changing the criteria for what will be permanently blocked. Once the principle is admitted, it is open to abuse in future. It sets a dangerous precedent.
The inappropriate content filter is an opt-out system, not an opt-in system, meaning the government will have a list of everyone who wants to receive content the government deems inapropriate.
This too is open to future abuse.
The justification for this is to protect children. That is the responsibiloity of the parents, not the government. Only lazy parents cannot or will not manage their childrens internet use. This allows them to abdicate responsibilty for protecting their own child.
Furthermore, the filter is easily circumvented, meaning any parent relying on it to protect their child will have a false sense of security.
It also slows the already pathetically slow (by international standards) Australian 'broadband' network.
Let Minister Stephen Conroy know you oppose this measure and why. It shall not pass.
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