Australia is planning on introducing filters that will prevent web users in the country from accessing sites with criminal content, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has announced.
The move follows a lengthy seven-month trial of the new filter technology that found it to be 100 per cent effective.
An independent classification group will decide on which sites would be banned, and they'd act in response to complaints from the public. The new law will go to the Australian parliament next August. It's estimated that it will take a year to be fully implemented.
Conroy told the BBC: "Through a combination of additional resources for education and awareness, mandatory internet filtering of RC (refused classification)-rated content, and optional ISP-level filtering, we have a package that balances safety for families and the benefits of the digital revolution."
The filters could include additional options, including a ban on gambling sites. Individual ISPs could choose to enforce those in exchange for a grant.
Not everyone is happy
There's been a rumble of opposition to the move on Twitter, where dissenters have added the tag #nocleanfeed to posts, and Electronic Frontiers Australia has been vocal in its disapproval, noting that there's been no real explanation of the policy.
A year ago the Australian government first put forward its proposals to filter all net traffic and ban sites considered harmful to children. Telstra, the country's largest ISP, refused to take part in those trials.
Via BBC
Your comments (2) Click to add a new comment
anteaus
December 21st 2009
2. Thing is, once the filtering starts how do you know exactly what is being censored?
-Or worse, what content is being invisibly modified to suit political or religious agendas?
Once that possibility exists you can no longer trust online reports any more than you can trust a Government-sponsored newspaper to tell the unbiased truth.
I remember the USSR. Not that I need to, China is just as bad.
In any case, the user has the option to sign-up to one of several filtering services (OpenDNS, K9, etc) if they feel the need for it. That is how things should ALWAYS operate in a free society.
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tech89
December 16th 2009
1. If it helps reduce online and offline criminal activity then it's great news.
They just have to be careful not to blacklist innocent sites as they have made that mistake before on a few occasions.
The gambling thing, well that's the country's decision and laws. Can't do much about that. It might save you losing a more than few bob though.
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