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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."
not only that but i'd bet that all of the cases where this law would be really needed are already covered by other laws(just because you're on internet doesn't make it any different from the 'real' world on most 'menacing' and 'offending' acts).
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world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
What makes you think _you_ get to decide what is offensive? It really means offensive to the State. The State always takes care of itself first, even against the people. (For example, it will prosecute counterfeiters more severely than check kiters.)
Slashdot: Failed Car Analogies. Amateur Lawyering. Anecdote Battles.
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
Because it isn't law, or even a draft law yet. It is just another press release from Senator Alston, who is well known for political grandstanding and generally shooting his mouth (and feet) off.
It only becomes really newsworthy when we see what the draft legislation looks like. If it is as bad as it sounds, there is little chance that it will get through the Senate without ammendment.