How long before they block gun related sites?


Aussies to get no opt-out of filtered internet

Under the government's Plan for Cyber-Safety, users can switch between two blacklists

By Darren Pauli Auckland | Tuesday, 21 October, 2008Email Print

Australians will be unable to opt-out of the government's pending internet content filtering scheme, and will instead be placed on a watered-down blacklist, experts say.

Under the government's A$125.8 million (NZ$142 million) Plan for Cyber-Safety, users can switch between two blacklists which block content inappropriate for children, and a separate list which blocks illegal material.

Pundits say consumers have been lulled into believing the opt-out proviso would remove content filtering altogether.

The government will iron-out policy and implementation of the internet content filtering software following an upcoming trial of the technology, according to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

Department spokesman Tim Marshall said the filters will be mandatory for all Australians.

“Labor’s plan for cyber-safety will require ISPs to offer a clean feed internet service to all homes, schools and public internet points accessible by children,†Marshall said.

“The upcoming field pilot of ISP filtering technology will look at various aspects of filtering, including effectiveness, ease of circumvention, the impact on internet access speeds and cost.â€

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) contacted by Computerworld say blanket content filtering will cripple internet speeds because the technology is not up to scratch.

Online libertarians claim the blacklists could be expanded to censor material such as euthanasia, drugs and protest.

Internode network engineer Mark Newton said many users falsely believe the opt-out proviso will remove content filtering.

“Users can opt-out of the 'additional material' blacklist (referred to in a department press release, which is a list of things unsuitable for children, but there is no opt-out for 'illegal content'â€, Newton said.

“That is the way the testing was formulated, the way the upcoming live trials will run, and the way the policy is framed; to believe otherwise is to believe that a government department would go to the lengths of declaring that some kind of internet content is illegal, then allow an opt-out.

“Illegal is illegal and if there is infrastructure in place to block it, then it will be required to be blocked — end of story.â€

Newton said advisers to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy have told ISPs that internet content filtering will be mandatory for all users.

The government reported it does not expected to prescribe which filtering technologies ISPs can use, and will only set blacklists of filtered content, supplied by the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

EFA chair Dale Clapperton said in a previous article that internet content filtering could lead to censorship of drugs, political dissident and other legal freedoms.

“Once the public has allowed the system to be established, it is much easier to block other material,†Clapperton said.

According to preliminary trials, the best internet content filters would incorrectly block about 10,0000 web pages from one million.

They couldn't do that...

I guess they are only filtering certain porn - no loss there..

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
They couldn't do that...

I guess they are only filtering certain porn - no loss there..

I was hoping that someone here knew the details. from what I read it will block anything "not suitable for chidren", does that mean porn, any type of violence, guns, etc?

The other thing that they mention is blocking any "illegal material". What's the definition of illegal material?

No I dont know the definitive answer but I think you will find that it is just the illegal stuff - kiddie porn, terrorism stuff, etc.

They may block certain other types (or all) of pornography sites though.

Probably just the same way the regular programs do it...

I love the way that Govt protects us from ourselves. Working in a school means that many sites are blocked ... very inconvenient if the kids are researching and type in "Breast cancer". I bet you a thriving little industry develops in finding ways to beat the filters.
Cheers...
Con

Con, et all.

l hope you don't mind me dropping in on this issue, but it's one that l always feel strongly over. l also work in education (university campus warden)and would be far more worried about "Cyber Chatroom Grooming" then any of the porn sites that infest the internet. We have at the moment a pilicy of "total open access" to the internet on campus, but see vertually no porn being accessed at all though MSN-hotmail/facebook and the like are always popular.
A friend of mine works for local gov' and they have a filter on their system that blocks half of the research he needs for work.... Big Brother can't even get it right for themselves

l believe someone said "people always vote in a gov'ment they deserve" well l hope those people are bloody happy now

Regards.

Dave.
....

Where are you at Dave??

Thanks for the comments. Any censorship in this way in Oz will be bad of course - no question..

what can you expect? you voted a labour government into power...

quote:

Originally posted by Paul from nz:
what can you expect? you voted a labour government into power...

Well thats true Paul but you have to remember it is a labour government in NSW that has proven to be much more supportive of firearms owners and hunters (with a little prodding by our Shooters Party members) .... so you cant really complain about 'Labour' so broadly in Australia. The Australian Shooters Party at the last Federal election did some deals with Labour to keep out Greens candidates...At the end of the day however they are all just horrible politicians, in a stupid 2 party system (at the moment) that will be swayed either way.

The way we are heading is to a three-party system .... and that third party will be the GREENS. They are the true enemy....not Labour necessarily.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave2431:
Con, et all.

l hope you don't mind me dropping in on this issue, but it's one that l always feel strongly over. l also work in education (university campus warden)and would be far more worried about "Cyber Chatroom Grooming" then any of the porn sites that infest the internet.
Regards.

Dave.
....

Dave,
Ditto ... the issue of grooming under-age children is much more prevalent in the United States. We had Victoria Police's 'cyber-cop' in the school a few weeks back over a few incidents and she compared our two countries. Our issue at the moment is predominantly cyber-bullying through the social sites.
I suppose its just a matter of time however before our issues become similar to yours.

Its not a simple issue, but banning anything hardly ever seems to make a difference and it sure makes it harder at times for teachers/students to do legitimate web research. But then, maybe it pays for Govt to filter material and then only allow the content they want people to see??
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul from nz:
what can you expect? you voted a labour government into power...

Well thats true Paul but you have to remember it is a labour government in NSW that has proven to be much more supportive of firearms owners and hunters (with a little prodding by our Shooters Party members) .... so you cant really complain about 'Labour' so broadly in Australia. The Australian Shooters Party at the last Federal election did some deals with Labour to keep out Greens candidates...At the end of the day however they are all just horrible politicians, in a stupid 2 party system (at the moment) that will be swayed either way.

The way we are heading is to a three-party system .... and that third party will be the GREENS. They are the true enemy....not Labour necessarily.

well lets face it, the AUS government could never be as bad as the NZ one, why else is half of NZ living in AUS? and the worse thing is your stealing all the workers. I wont deny it, Australia is actually better than New Zealand at most things, apart from rugby and free range hunting which are 2 of the most important things in life

Cant argue with you about the rugby but Australia has a damn LOT of free range hunting. I mean just take the Vic Sambar range.... that is one HUGE tract of land full of deer!! Feral pigs, deer in all other states, goats, buffalo....how much hunting do you want?? It is just a lot further to get to some of that hunting than it is in New Zealand.

And you are correct - hunting, fishing, rugby - I find it very difficult to choose a favourite!!

Greetings Chaps.

Back in the office again, Sooo here goes.

Mat. l'm in the north of England mate, not too far from the Tartan Wall.

Con. l saw told of a very god example a few years ago while in kenya. When one of the locals said that the mistake the British made was to pull out too early (he said about 50years). leaving the only ones with an education being the Army and the Tribal/Political leaders, so keeping the rest of the population down and ignorant.
So l guess the only way to beat abuse is through education into the perils of delving into the internet and then letting people decide for themselves what levels they wish to set for themselves.