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Australian Gov't To Launch Net Crackdown
docfisher writes "According to this article on whirlpool, the Australian Govt is proposing laws that would allow sentences of up to two years jail time for using the internet for "menacing or offensive purposes". According to The Age, Protest organisers will also be targetted in the clampdown. Press release by Senator Alston here."
Offensive behaveyor. LEts see, that means i can have all religious sites off the internet, as they offend me. All sites advocating censorship. ALl government sites will have to be taken down, as the idea that they know better than i do offends me. WHo else can i take out under this vague and poorly worded law? WHen im done there will be nothing left but pornograpy, slashdot, and lemur jokes.
All Troll + "offtopic" mods are meta moderated as "Unfair", because you abused the system.
It's Australian for fascism.
You'll have that sometimes...
They're all a bunch of criminals anyway.
I mean, Australia *was* a prison island for England afterall.
Someone please tell the lawmakers to think a little. Like someone's already pointed out, just because it's the internet doens't make it different. Of course, there are differences, which are blithely ignored when it suits the lawmakers. I'm offended. By what? By everything! Shut down the net!
Grandiose. Note please the use of the phrase 'telecommunications service', not 'internet'.
This implies that the media used to organize protests to help topple Joseph Estrada, to kill Hong Kong's internal security law, to bring out mass demonstrations against Cesar Chavez, and multitudinous other demonstrations against heavy-handed government actions, such as SMS, phone, or email, can all be punishable by the government.
In effect, this law nullifies the democratic advantage given to a population to organize against anything objectionable its government does. Equally important the bit about 'menacing'
and 'harassment'--essentially, any political protests could be construed as such. This brings to mind the Riot Act, which stated that as soon as 12 or more people gather 'unlawfully', an officer of the law could read the act and anyone remaining at the gathering would be considered a felon.
Equally scary, but I suppose in a fashion typical for Australian and UK governments is the use of the kiddy-porn specter (in the US the catchword is 'terrorism'):
Clever, clever way to pass a law over potential objections--think of the children! As an outsider, I'm not qualified to criticize Australian politics on the whole, but boy, that seems like one scary senator you've got there.
Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
Why is this not a front page story? Laws do have a tendency to spread, you know.
Indeed, it would be only the right thing to do. On the other hand it's good to be up to date on how to add up to three inches to your willy.
I'm trying to break into bubble gum factory.
They only shipped the truly dangerous ones. You figure it out.
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
I've often heard him referred to as that here in Oz. I've never met the guy personally, but his (Liberal Party, remember that party names over here are approximately the reverse of those in Yankee-land) policies seem to be missing a big dollop of what techies would regard as common sense or even basic understanding. Not that his political fellows are all angels and geniuses either. Kate Lundy (of the Labor Party, yes, spelling is correct for Oz, they are not, as has often been noted, the Labour Party) seems to have an unusually good understand of which way is up, but has her own agenda. The Democrats are such a random bunch that you can never be sure what policies the collection as a whole will emit, but there seem to be a few bright lads there, too.
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
My new 3-way lesbian altar ceremony should be exempt.
All Troll + "offtopic" mods are meta moderated as "Unfair", because you abused the system.
Just like when they all voted unanymously to support the war, then half turn around three months later and cry foul...
Our leaders are sheep and they're leading reason - and our rights - straight to the slaughterhouse.
The man who said:
- Broadband Internet is only used for porn and online gaming
- 3GB is more than generation, its equal to unlimited internet who could use that much
- Encryption should be illegal
- ISP's MUST filter all content before users can look at it
This man is an idiot, WHY IS HE REPRESENTING TECHNOLOGY IN THE GOVERNMENT IN MY COUNTRY.
Wade Mealing
like I've said, I'm gonna laugh when all systems entropy due to greed, and control whores. Really, there's no safe place to go anymore.. basically, we're all fucked and so the best thing you can do is sit back and let the system take itself down. becuase if you dare challenge, say the US govt. you're a terrorist and you're gonna sit in jail for the rest of your days without hearing or any actual rights.. Hitler would be proud.