Internet Censorship

[Laminge]

I wouldn't normally but found this a good read, well worthwhile anyhow.

http://libertus.net/censor/ispfiltering-au-govplan.html

Snippet

The Australian Federal Labor Government, which was elected on 24 November 2007, has a 'plan' to force all Australian ISPs to implement server-based filtering/blocking systems to block adults' access to content unsuitable for children, as well as content the government deems unsuitable for adults, on a secret blacklist compiled by a government agency (ACMA). In terms of the type of content to be subject to government mandated blocking, the Labor Government's plan is among the most censorious in the world (January 2009).

[JamesR]

so they want the whole internet to be like AFF.. ~awesome~ :

[Laminge]

Originally Posted by JamesR

so they want the whole internet to be like AFF.. ~awesome~ :

No a bit more lax

[GS608]

my god i hope this gets chucked out and forgotten about, blocked everything from MA 15+ up? thats pathetic!

[falconboy]

In some respects I agree - on the basis that such a large number of internet users are children, and its near impossible to leave them unsupervised, however I want to be able to view any disgusting, graphic web site I want.

A better idea would be a filter like many ISP's spam filter, that you can turn on and off - those who want it can use it, those who don't, don't.

[Falcon Coupe]

http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitio...australia.html

[bdave351]

Its already outside the original claims.

A while back a person submitted an anit abortion website for clasification and it was promptly blacklisted (and subsequently widely published due to that censorship decision).
While many of us would find the said site quite offensive, its a genuine political opinion and something that should be open to debate.

Not only was it blacklisted however, but yesterday the ACMA threaten the discussion site (Whirlpool) with fines of 11,000 a day unless they took down a post with links to the site as the decision was discussed.

Political censorship in Australia is a slippery slope and were already being compared to Iran, Saudia Arabia, Burma and China for this scheme.

While I agree many things are innapropriate for young children on the net, thats why the previous govt had a free home based PC filter that could be installed on your computer available. Something the current govt canned and is instituting the country wide MANDATORY secret blacklist.

(Yes Im very angry about it, and Im normally pretty right wing)

[balthazarr]

Originally Posted by falconboy

In some respects I agree - on the basis that such a large number of internet users are children, and its near impossible to leave them unsupervised, however I want to be able to view any disgusting, graphic web site I want.

I couldn't disagree more. I don't have kids, why should my Internet experience suffer?

What's wrong with installing filters on your machine? Why does everyone's internet speed (already amongst the slowest in the developed world) have to suffer because some parents are irresponsible enough to allow their kids to use the net unsupervised?

No filter is perfect, it will always have false positives - blocking stuff it shouldn't, and false negatives - allowing stuff it shouldn't. People need to get this. No filter is a substitute for parental supervision.

A better idea would be a filter like many ISP's spam filter, that you can turn on and off - those who want it can use it, those who don't, don't.

Maybe this would work. But as I said above, no filter is perfect, my ISPs spam filter is useless and allows stuff through all the time... the problem with having this sort of filter (if it's not mandatory), is that it will make parents think that the 'net is now "safe" - but it isn't and it won't be.

[shane3]

will never happen, to much out there, face book, you tube (more like porn tube! sign in and type in "strip" and see what you get, 16 yo girls doing things most of us at that age never thought of!!!), my space, red tube, so many things it will never take as soon as 1 is closed 3 others will pop up with the same thing

[flappist]

And remember the mindset of these morons. Minority groups will not be disadvantaged but things that are deemed socially incorrect will be banned and the users redirected to a more politically correct site in the hope that you may be "re-educated".

So don't be surprised if some time in the future you type www.fordforums.com.au into your browser and end up at some gay indigenous environmentalist prius forum with Harold Scruby as the admin.............

We in QLD are about to sort out our local problem, remember this sort of stupidity when you have a chance to sort out the bigger problem next year or so.

[Bent8]

as well as content the government deems unsuitable for adults, on a secret blacklist compiled by a government agency (ACMA).

Right, so when did we turn into China?...

This is plain wrong...and will be met with HUGE protest. The Govt should consider themselves lucky we aren't armed anymore!

[Jason[98.EL]]

i have 3 kids and whilst i agree that it is hard to controll what the look at on the net i beleive that it is wrong that people can be told what not to look at

yes i beleive the teen porn sites ect should be removed from access asap but thats all

Jason

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitio...australia.html

I’ve added this to the petition.

I’m glad that the ALP knows what’s best for me. Thank you Chairman Kev for saving me from travelling all the way to China to see how they run things over there.

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by Grimus

yes i beleive the teen porn sites ect should be removed from access asap but thats all

Remove the sites themselves, not restrict access to stuff on the internet.

It will simply just not work due to the nature of the internet. It would take all of about 5 minutes maximum to circumnavigate these filters. It's as simple as using a proxy site or an SSH tunnel (which are free) outside of Australia, all of which can't be monitored.
It'll simply slow down the internet and raise the cost of providing it. It's a stupid plan that just won't work. The government should concentrate their efforts on removing the people who create the illegal material in the first place. That is where the problem lies.
Whether or not Australian's can or can not access kiddie porn over the net isn't going to stop someone in a foreign country abusing children to produce this material. This internet filtering simply doesn't address the core issue.

[Jason[98.EL]]

yeh that pretty much what i was trying to say just not to crash hot on the wording if you get me

this is going to cause a crap load of backlash for rudd i think

Grimus

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Remove the sites themselves, not restrict access to stuff on the internet.

It will simply just not work due to the nature of the internet. It would take all of about 5 minutes maximum to circumnavigate these filters. It's as simple as using a proxy site or an SSH tunnel (which are free) outside of Australia, all of which can't be monitored.
It'll simply slow down the internet and raise the cost of providing it. It's a stupid plan that just won't work. The government should concentrate their efforts on removing the people who create the illegal material in the first place. That is where the problem lies.
Whether or not Australian's can or can not access kiddie porn over the net isn't going to stop someone in a foreign country abusing children to produce this material. This internet filtering simply doesn't address the core issue.

[JMO]

This has been flying under the radar for a while. I heard about it mid last year and am still pretty peeved. It seems however that a lot of you are just hearing about this for the first time. I thought that it would have caused a lot more of a stir by now.

[TUF_302]

This is a stupid idea, im 21 and enjoy porn!

[Falc'man]

What will be blacklisted that should be kept a "secret" from us? We know it's not porn, violence, etc. It must be something they themselves are ashamed of, or maybe a threat to their scheme.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

What will be blacklisted that should be kept a "secret" from us? We know it's not porn, violence, etc. It must be something they themselves are ashamed of, or maybe a threat to their scheme.

Probably anything that critisizes the government, just like K Rudds buddies over in China do.

[RepSpec]

if parents these days actually did a good job of watching there children and handing out discipline we wouldnt have this problem.

if they want to do something to help shield us from the problems of the world, look at the 6pm news and start there. we can see stuff just as gorey and smut filled on the news, or even at 10am on video hits.

if you dont like what is on the internet, dont bloody use it

[vztrt]

I remember reading that only one ISP would test this filter (in a lab) to show that it was a waste of money and all it would do is slow the net down. All the other ISP's said they would not allow the government to test this filter.

[BlackLS]

The internet is owned by no-one. But I have my ways and means around the filter if it does get applied.

[Burnout]

These filters are no problem - VPN's are easy accessed and the Govt. can't do a thing about them.

[big_waity]

The biggest problem with filtering the net is it blocks the good and lets in the bad. I bet I could still find whatever I wanted, it'd just be harder.
In reality, grownups should be able to look at whatever the heck they want and children should be supervised by parents. If you are really a lazy parent and don't want to watch your kid, get a net-nanny program and use it at home.

[Ralliart]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitio...australia.html

Signed It
:

[Burnout]

+1.

This Govt has no mandate with regard to total internet censorship.

[Daymoe]

Now selling harcore and lesbian porn, cheap!

Seriously though, what a load of crap, I've known about this for a while as I'm a frequent user of Whirlpool and have been for a long while. This will not go down well.

The great firewall of Australia. At least china has faster speeds lol.

[RSgerry]

This is the thin edge of the wedge. First they claim to block only the stuff that is harmful to children, but what next? The blacklist will remain secret. What if a thread like this appears again on AF? Will they instruct moderators to take the thread down or have the site closed because ut questions the government? Methinks Kodak Kev has spent too long with his Chinese buddies.

[svo347]

Originally Posted by falconboy

In some respects I agree - on the basis that such a large number of internet users are children, and its near impossible to leave them unsupervised,.

Isnt that what net nanny etc are for tho

[Daymoe]

They're going to try block out peer to peer (limewire) etc. I think Rudd's obsession with China/Asia is getting too strong now.