Australia to implement mandatory internet censorship

1BiGG1

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:eek: Wow, Australia is moving toward the Dark Ages …

Australia to implement mandatory internet censorship | Herald Sun

Australia to implement mandatory internet censorship!

AUSTRALIA will join China in implementing mandatory censoring of the internet under plans put forward by the Federal Government.
The revelations emerge as US tech giants Google, Microsoft and Yahoo, and a coalition of human rights and other groups unveiled a code of conduct aimed at safeguarding online freedom of speech and privacy.

The government has declared it will not let internet users opt out of the proposed national internet filter.

The plan was first created as a way to combat child pronography and adult content, but could be extended to include controversial websites on euthanasia or anorexia.

Communications minister Stephen Conroy revealed the mandatory censorship to the Senate estimates committee as the Global Network Initiative, bringing together leading companies, human rights organisations, academics and investors, committed the technology firms to "protect the freedom of expression and privacy rights of their users".

Mr Conroy said trials were yet to be carried out, but "we are talking about mandatory blocking, where possible, of illegal material."

The net nanny proposal was originally going to allow Australians who wanted uncensored access to the web the option of contacting their internet service provider to be excluded from the service.

Human Rights Watch has condemned internet censorship, and argued to the US Senate "there is a real danger of a Virtual Curtain dividing the internet, much as the Iron Curtain did during the Cold War, because some governments fear the potential of the internet, (and) want to control it"
Groups including the System Administrators Guild of Australia and Electronic Frontiers Australia have attacked the proposal, saying it would unfairly restrict Australians' access to the web, slow internet speeds and raise the price of internet access.
EFA board member Colin Jacobs said it would have little effect on illegal internet content, including child pornography, as it would not cover file-sharing networks.

"If the Government would actually come out and say we're only targeting child pornography it would be a different debate," he said.

The technology companies' move, which follows criticism that the companies were assisting censorship of the internet in nations such as China, requires them to narrowly interpret government requests for information or censorship and to fight to minimise cooperation.

The initiative provides a systematic approach to "work together in resisting efforts by governments that seek to enlist companies in acts of censorship and surveillance that violate international standards", the participants said.

In a statement, Yahoo co-founder and chief executive Jerry Yang welcomed the new code of conduct.

"These principles provide a valuable roadmap for companies like Yahoo operating in markets where freedom of expression and privacy are unfairly restricted," he said.

"Yahoo was founded on the belief that promoting access to information can enrich people's lives, and the principles we unveil today reflect our determination that our actions match our values around the world."

Yahoo was thrust into the forefront of the online rights issue after the Californian company helped Chinese police identify cyber dissidents whose supposed crime was expressing their views online.

China exercises strict control over the internet, blocking sites linked to Chinese dissidents, the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement, the Tibetan government-in-exile and those with information on the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.

A number of US companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Yahoo, have been hauled before the US Congress in recent years and accused of complicity in building the "Great Firewall of China".

The Australian Christian Lobby, however, has welcomed the proposals.
Managing director Jim Wallace said the measures were needed.

"The need to prevent access to illegal hard-core material and child pornography must be placed above the industry's desire for unfettered access," Mr Wallace said.
 

dunno_what

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This is bullshit. I voted for this government and not once did they mention this as a major policy statement. They are only using this to deflect the unwanted attention from their mishandling of the financial crisis.
If the opposition stands against this, then the swing will go towards blocking this. But the opposition are... well, I think they would support this. Especially as, if they don't, they be labelled as complicit with child porn.
It's bloody scary.
 

Phil Ayesho

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Australia has been undergoing its own form of Christian fascism... the same kind of shit the US has been suffering for the last decade.

Aussies must fight against this fundamentalist assault on liberty.
 

1BiGG1

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Yorkie

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If this becomes law there should be a mass public protest.If you aren't getting the service you paid for when the contract was signed,refuse to make any more payments.The ISP's won't like getting hit in the pocket.
 

jason_els

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Grotesque coming from Australia. This is something I'd expect from Saudi, North Korea, or Iran. I fervently hope Australians will fight tooth and nail against this legislation.
 

Patchos

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Not likely to get passed through the Senate.

With both the Greens and Nat-Libs against, as well as most Labour front-benchers. There is also that niggling little detail of it being technically impossible to actually block pornography files swapped through peer-to-peer networks etc.

You all should know already not to take much of 1BIGG1's postings seriously.
 
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1BiGG1

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Not likely to get passed through the Senate.

With both the Greens and Nat-Libs against, as well as most Labour front-benchers. There is also that niggling little detail of it being technically impossible to actually block pornography files swapped through peer-to-peer networks etc.

You all should know already not to take much of 1BIGG1's postings seriously.

Did you miss the part where I linked a source = stop pretending I am making this up. :rolleyes:
 

1BiGG1

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You really don't know much about Australian politics, media or culture, do you?


I quoted an Australian article, maybe you should take this up with those within.

P.S. Been there several times by the way but do not pertain to know much about Australian politics because I don’t care much about Australian politics. The people I met there were all quite nice though. :wink:
 

Rowan Ravenseed

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OMG I can't believe my kevvi baby would do this to us what happened to him?

I know that Howard wanted to do something similar but I never expected something this silly from our Kevvi *cries*

*Stalks over to Kirribilly smacks kevvi upside the head and says "go on... get a leg up you silly fool your gonna loose all those that believed in you now smarten up else ill sick ROVE ontya" *
 

Jovial

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The natural of the Internet makes it hard to censor things. There will always be ways around it if someone really wants to get uncensored stuff. And they are talking about encrypting everything in the future making it harder to figure out who is getting what by eavesdropping. It's just very hard to enforce these rules on servers outside of the country with the laws.