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For those who haven't been paying close attention, here's a reminder of past events. Previously on internet filtering...
- Howard government announces $189 million to block internet porn - every family will be provided with free internet filter
- 16-year-old cracks government porn filter in 30 minutes
- Newly-elected Rudd Government says internet filtering will be mandatory for all ISPs - announces trials
- Tasmanian internet filtering trial is dismal failure - easily circumvented, blocks legitimate sites, causes network performance loss - Government calls it a success
And now, most recently...
- Reports that ALL Australian internet traffic will pass through censorship filter - no opt-out to be offered
It seems the Government is going to run two blacklists - one for material deemed unsuitable for children and one for material deemed unsuitable for adults. You'll be able to opt-out of one or the other but not both. If you don't opt-out at all you'll be subject to both blacklists.
The Government says it won't be blocking anything that is currently legal for Australians to view, but that doesn't account for the terrible inaccuracy of the software, the performance overhead it creates and the price increases that ISPs will undoubtedly pass along to maintain it, not to mention the moral basis and the fiscal responsibility of implementing the system in the first place.
Electronic Frontiers Australia is urging all concerned internet users to take action to have this impractical policy changed by using one or more of the means listed on their website.
I have written a letter to Senator Stephen Conroy outlining my concerns. I will post the response if and when I get one. The letter reads as follows:
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Dear Senator Conroy,
As an avid Internet user and professional working in the technology industry, I am concerned about the Government’s internet filtering policy. I had assumed that after the trial that was run in Tasmania, that the idea of a national rollout of a filtering system would be off the agenda, or at least on the back burner. Regrettably however I hear this is not the case.
From a technical standpoint it is surely difficult to justify spending money on an internet filtering system that is unable to reliably tell the difference between what is regarded as acceptable and unacceptable material, while at the same time increasing data overhead and internet access costs across the whole country.
I would also like to know whose judgment the Government will employ in determining the content of both proposed blacklists, if there will be a provision to opt-out of filtering altogether and if a directory will be made available to the public specifying which sites have been blacklisted and for what reason. From a moral standpoint it has to be questioned why the Government feels it is its job to decide what adults should be allowed to see in the first place.
I am told that your office’s standard response to similar letters to mine is that nothing will be blocked that it is currently legal for adults to view. This does not address my concerns. What about differences in laws between states? What about the filter’s proven ineffectiveness to identify which material is which? What is the justification for taking this approach in the first place? What consultation with industry experts has there been or will there be that recommend a national filtering system as the best course of action? What alternatives have been discussed?
Trying to rid the Internet of adult content is a futile waste of money. I would like to know what evidence the Government has that this is not the case and on what basis you feel the Tasmanian trial was a success warranting a national ‘clean feed’ rollout. I look forward to your response.
Yours Sincerely,
Danu Poyner
Please consider writing your own letter to Senator Conroy or using the one provided at this website. You can also send an email to Senator Conroy (minister (at) dbcde.gov.au) or at the very least sign a petition.
For more detailed information about the Government's mandatory internet blocking plan, refer to this comprehensive guide.
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Luke 10.12.08 at 10:47 am
Perhaps the most alarming statistic is that not only will it slow Australia's already slow (by world standards) internet speeds by a further 20%, it will still allow kids to access 3% or more of inappropriate content!
It's a total farce and needs to be stopped before we waste any more money on such a futile endeavour.