http://www.itnews.com.au/News/162945,is ... ilter.aspxConroy reveals plans to censor the internet
By Ry Crozier, Brett Winterford, Ben Grubb
Dec 15, 2009 3:32 PM
Tags: conroy | internet | filter | filtering
Mandatory ISP-level filtering comes to Australia.
The Federal Government will introduce laws to make ISP-level filtering mandatory for all refused-classification material hosted overseas.
It will amend the Broadcasting Services Act next August to enforce the filter, which it expects to be operational within a year of implementation.
Grants will be made to providers that wish to further filter X18+ sites.
Announcing the measure today, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that the legislation would require ISPs to block RC-rated material hosted on overseas servers. He said it was an "additional measure to the existing take-down regime for Australia-hosted content".
Senator Conroy justified the filter, saying that "most Australians acknowledge that there is some internet content which is not acceptable in any civilised society".
"It is important that all Australians, particularly young children, are protected from this material," he said.
Report released
Senator Conroy said a pilot conducted by Enex TestLabs in conjunction with Australia's largest ISPs proved that such filtering was viable.
"The report into the pilot trial of ISP-level filtering demonstrates that blocking RC-rated material can be done with 100 percent accuracy and negligible impact on internet speed," he said.
Transparency?
The Government announced that the list of blocked RC content would be compiled "through a public complaints mechanism".
But these public complaints will only form a subset of the total content blocked. The Government will also add "specific internet addresses (URLs) of known child abuse material through sharing lists with highly regarded international agencies after an assessment of the rigour and accountability of classification processes used by these agencies".
The Government said it was "also introducing new transparency measures to ensure the public can have absolute confidence in the process for material being placed on the RC Content list" but is yet to release details.
It is believed the mechanism for this process will be hammered out during the consultation phase over the next few months.
Much more information can be found at http://whirlpool.net.au/UPDATE: ISPs, pollies & activists speak out on internet filter
By Ry Crozier, Ben Grubb
Dec 15, 2009 3:53 PM
Tags: netfilter | conroy | efa | primus | telstra | isp | level | content | filtering | trial | legislation
Mixed support for Government announcement.
Electronic Frontiers Australia has expressed concern over the Federal Government's decision to introduce mandatory ISP-level filtering, as several ISPs indicated support contingent on further "consultation".
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy today revealed the Government's intention to introduce legislation to block "refused classification" content hosted on overseas servers.
EFA spokesman Colin Jacobs told iTnews the Federal Government's stance on just blocking child pornography was misleading.
"Refused classification is definitely more than just illegal child pornography," Jacobs said.
"It's anything that doesn't fit into the Classification Board's other ratings and that include video games aimed at adults, criminality and euthanasia and all sorts of controversial things."
"Our concern is that once there is a secret blacklist in place it is going to be very difficult for the public to know what's on it and if it will be increased in scope as time goes on."
Primus backs policy
But a participant in the controversial trials, Primus Telecommunications, backed the Government's policy "to block online child pornography".
He said that Primus would "work with the Government to further develop and implement" the policy.
"Primus Telecom believes that the introduction of an ISP filtering regime into Australia requires a balance between protecting Australians' rights of free expression and access to information with the need to improve online safety and the need to take action against the providers of objectionable content," Bhatia said in a statement.
"The scope and operation of an ISP filtering regime for on-line safety needs to be governed by a set of clear and focused policy principles, use efficient and effective processes in determining and removing prohibitions on content, and operate in a transparent and accountable manner.
"[We welcome] the chance to expand on these matters in further consultation with the Government."
Telstra's reaction
Telstra's group managing director of public policy and communications David Quilty was also supportive of the Government's intention "to legislate its approach, thereby ensuring that it applies across the industry, is clearly spelt out and is enforceable by law.
"We also welcome Senator Conroy's commitment to consult further with ISPs on the details of the Government's plans," he said.
Family First sees 'fine line'
Family First Senator Steve Fielding welcomed the release of the Enex report on this year's controversial filter trials, and also put up his hand to participate in further consultation processes.
"I believe there needs to be some sort of filtering on the Internet the same way every other medium has some level of protection," Fielding said.
"We all know there is some pretty awful stuff on the web and we need to make sure this doesn't make its way into our homes.
But he warned: "There's a fine line sometimes between filtering and censorship and it's important we get this balance right."
Coalition seeks independent audit
Shadow Communications Minister Tony Smith called for an independent audit of the Enex test results before he would add support to the mandatory filtering plan.
"Our concern with Labor's proposed mandatory filtering plan has always been that it would be both unworkable and ineffective," Smith said.
"Whilst the Coalition remains concerned that the Rudd Government's approach will simply be unmanageable, we have also said from the beginning that we were prepared to assess any credible trial results.
"Now that Senator Conroy has finally produced the report, that detail needs to be assessed."
Smith said an audit of the Enex report "should occur as soon as possible."
He also said the Coalition "will consult extensively with Telstra, other ISP providers and relevant stakeholders over coming weeks, and will examine the government's proposals in detail."
Democrats slam proposal
The Democrats slammed the Government's decision to push ahead with mandatory internet censorship, branding it "a waste of taxpayers' money and a violation of their freedom".
Its national technology policy coordinator Geordie Guy also said it established "a bad precedent for Government control of information."
Guy said internet users generally were "still waiting for some sort of sensible explanation from the Senator about why this is a better idea than empowering law enforcement and supporting the choices of individual Australians."
"Those who have been able to access the [Enex] report have been disappointed with page after page of jargon and graphs," he said.
"The missing context of any assertions is horrifying. There's not even detail of how many people participated in the trial, whether they requested to do so or really under what sort of conditions."
More to come...
Got to say, I didn't honestly think they'd go ahead with it over all the backlash they've been getting over it. If they wanted to swing young voters towards the Coalition, or minor parties like the Pirate Party and Greens, this is certainly the best way to do it, giving them all an issue they can hammer the government on repeatedly for the next however long it is until the election. Very poor politics from Labor.
