Government says yes to Internet filter, Google says no
- — 16 December, 2009 15:24
The controversial Australian Internet filter has been given the all clear by Senator Stephen Conroy, with the federal Minister for Broadband revealing plans to enforce mandatory ISP-level filtering.
Releasing further details of Internet filtering trial results, Conroy said the filter will "improve safety on the Internet for Australian families."
The senator revealed the federal government will go ahead with plans to introduce mandatory ISP-level filtering of content that has been refused classification (RC), and will also provide a program to encourage the introduction of further optional filtering by ISPs at a user's request.
"Through a combination of additional resources for education and awareness, mandatory internet filtering of RC-rated content, and optional ISP-level filtering, we have a package that balances safety for families and the benefits of the digital revolution," he said in a statement.
According to the government, RC-rated material includes child sex abuse content, bestiality, sexual violence including rape, and detailed instructions for crime or drug use. Questions have been raised regarding the restrictions on access to controversial but legal information — such as educational content on drug use and euthanasia — as well as the possible impact on Internet speeds.
"The report into the pilot trial of ISP-level filtering demonstrates that blocking RC-rated material can be done with 100 per cent accuracy and negligible impact on internet speed," said Senator Conroy.
Google is a critic of mandatory ISP filtering and this morning released a statement saying, "our primary concern is that the scope of content to be filtered is too wide."
"Google, like many other Internet companies, has a global, all-product ban against child sexual abuse material and we filter out this content from our search results," said Iarla Flynn, from Google Australia's policy team. "But moving to a mandatory ISP filtering regime with a scope that goes well beyond such material is heavy handed and can raise genuine questions about restrictions on access to information. We believe that government should not have the right to block information which can inform debate of controversial issues."
The government has also released a discussion paper on additional measures to improve the accountability and transparency of processes that lead to material being placed on the RC content list.
Comments
Anonymous
Wed 16/12/2009 - 16:37
Re > But what about China
It was either that or China would of simply blocked Google.
I don't think Google were prepared to lose 1,325,639,982 potential users...
Anonymous
Wed 16/12/2009 - 18:34
Yay! Christian Nazi Net is here!
The great thing about all of this religious or "culty" guff, is that all the sheeple groveling in their steeple, they all have "opinions" about what their deity is "saying" and righteously so, but the deity in the last few thousands of years of "omnipotence", has never once put in a personal appearance.
You know like if "JC and the Space Cadets" were a rock band - the clueless would have caught on that while the promoters claim that they play in gigs all over the land, but they have never turned up; while the clueless and stupid keep rocking up and buying the tickets.
Losers.
So the same overlording us with more holier than thou drivel, is projected into the area of computer games and internet sites.
Again while people get slaughtered for fun and profit in the movies and the real world, playing computer games doing the same stuff is just not on?
Why?
Am I surprised that the people thrusting their liturgical loins at the censors office for "standards and decency" are not trying to put the shackles on those who choose to have their own autonomous opinions, by declaring them to workers of the devil, sorcery and witches - starting with the jabbings for the devils mark.
Am I even further surprised that this is now extending into the Great Australian Firewall.
Perhaps those who cry loudest are those who look forlornly upon the promises of the bible, such as Ezekiel 23: 21 "whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose emission was like that of stallions."
I mean who wouldn't want that or to be getting that?
I mean thank god Conroy is standing up for real Christian family values.
Jesus said in Revelation 2:22-23 "And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."
So Jesus wants to kill our kids - that's cool cause it is Jesus.
Timbo says I Timothy 2:11-14 "Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."
So all the women ought to keep their traps shut. I mean it's in the bible - so it must be true right.
And God digs killing pregnant chicks by knifing them and smashing their kids brains out on the ground; so the christians have got this family values stuff down pat: Hosea 13:16 "Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up."
So Conroy and his catholic buddies have got this right - we have to be protected against them out there on the internet and subjugate ourselves to the righteous christians showing us how their god loves us and how we ought to be kissing his ass, on the basis of their say so.
Oh did I mention that the old testament is a scammed copy of the Code of Hammurubi? The King of Babylons state laws - and the first 6 books of the bible are bare faced rip offs of this, just rebranded to a diety instead of the king?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_code_of_Hammurabi.pdf
Yep gotta remember them good old christian family values, the true word of god is the bible... except that getting nailed for copyright and plagarisim wasn't invented then.
Anonymous
Wed 16/12/2009 - 21:43
Just, wow.
Unbelievable. What kind of cowards do you have to be to let this pass WITHOUT dragging Conroy out and flogging him publically?
A vote against this unbearable law is NOT a vote for bestiality and child sex abuse but rather a vote AGAINST a government that has taken far too much power. For shame. Your country should be embarrassed.
Anonymous
Wed 16/12/2009 - 22:40
Deja Vu
Man, this sounds an awful lot like China's reasons for their firewall... *hint*
I'm not saying they'll block youtube or facebook or whatever, but it still disgusts me that they put up a filter that slows down the internet of all of Aus... If they really want to protect kids from pr0ns, then put out a service for parental control. Not this.
YipYa
Thu 17/12/2009 - 01:45
HoHo
Wow, dude below makes Christian fundamentalists look like cruzy d0pe smokin' bro's. Glad that's not ruling my world - I'd pique. But I'm also glad 4 the freedom to xpres it.
Now Obama has the power to switch off the net today to protect against 'dangerous keystrokes'. Conroy's just guilding the lily. Watch Oz become the 'guiding light'.
...in 10 yrs it'll be very different and posts like these just memories gathering dust. Hope we like monitoring and even more rampant political correctness by whinging dinosaurs coz the best is yet to come. Fugrrs
Anonymous
Thu 17/12/2009 - 10:36
But what about China
Its all about copyright , If you dont own the content you wont be able to show , comment , talk about or display it .
This filter wont work on VPN so you will see VPN's rise to the challenge .
Best share buy "VPN network Suppliers"
Anonymous
Thu 17/12/2009 - 12:39
If anything....
....This is proof that we need to treat our government ministers with the kindness recently shelled out by the Italians to their own.
Anonymous
Wed 16/12/2009 - 16:30
But what about China
Google cna't talk, look at the filtering Google has put on the Chinese site. Google does not allow e-mail, blogging or chat rooms.