Australia Approves ISP-Level Internet Filters

[Darth Sushi]

Australia Approves ISP-Level Internet Filters
By Kevin Parrish, published on December 15, 2009

" It's the end of the Internet as we once knew it. The Australian Government revealed today its plans to introduce mandatory ISP-level filtering of Refused Classification material hosted on overseas servers. While the government can regulate RC-rated content (child porn, bestiality, and other violent, offensive, and criminal acts) on a local level, it cannot control content from across the oceans without implementing the new ISP-level, virtual gate around its borders.

"ISP filtering reduces the risk of Australians being inadvertently exposed to RC-rated material when they are online," said Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy. "The report into the pilot trial of ISP-level filtering demonstrates that blocking RC-rated material can be done with 100% accuracy and negligible impact on internet speed."

Australia's new cyber-security measures also include a grants program that encourages optional filtering by ISPs. This allows consumers to choose additional content to filter without the need to download and install filtering software. The government is also introducing new "transparency" measures to reassure consumers that material is being placed on the government's RC Content list (blacklist).

"The Government will immediately undertake public consultation with the release today of a discussion paper on additional measures to improve the accountability and transparency of processes that lead to RC-rated material being placed on the RC Content list," Senator Conroy said. "

Source: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Australi...news-5351.html

[iLOVENZB]

/me moves to China.

At least their speeds are tolerable.

[aliensf]

once we hit that filter to hit the outside world, my 24mb connection will turn into a dialup connection. screw this filter >.<

[maphongbax]

So when China does this, it is anti-democracy; but when Australia does the same thing, it is totally OK?

[cypherpunks]

Australia has some weird politics... you would think a country founded by prisoners would support a more open Internet!

[xuxoxux]

/me moves to China.

At least their speeds are tolerable.

Exactly. If you will have the same content restrictions, why stick with slower speeds?