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Australia to Offer Widespread ISP-level Filtering

Posted by Zonk on from the definitely-thinking-of-the-children dept.

Phurge writes "According to a Sydney Morning Herald article, the Australia government has decided to take the controversial step of having internet service providers filter web content at the request of parents, in a crackdown on online bad language, pornography and child sex predators. 'The more efficient compulsory filtering of internet service providers (ISPs) was proposed in March last year by the then Labor leader, Kim Beazley. At the time, the Communications Minister, Helen Coonan, and ISPs criticised his idea as expensive. Three months later Senator Coonan announced the Government's Net Alert policy, which promised free filtering software for every home that wanted it. She also announced an ISP filtering trial to be conducted in Tasmania. That trial was scrapped. Today Mr Howard will hail the ISP filtering measure as a world first by any Government, and is expected to offer funding to help cover the cost. Parents will be able to request the ISP filter option when they sign up with an ISP. It will be compulsory to provide it. The measures will come into effect by the end of this month.'"

3 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm by Spad · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Today Mr Howard will hail the ISP filtering measure as a world first by any Government...

    I don't think that's something I'd be proud to admit.

  2. Re:could this actually be a good thing? by computational+super · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Right now, my TV is "filtered" - even my cable TV. I can call the cable company and unblock the "filtering" (e.g. get access to channels that are not "filtered") - as long as I'm willing to pay $19.95 a month extra per unfiltered channel. ISP's are salivating over the prospect of applying this "business model" to their service. "Unfiltered" internet (that is, paying them to stop doing something you didn't ask or want them to do in the first place) will CERTAINLY end up being more expensive that "filtered" internet. I give it one year, tops.

    --
    Proud neuron in the Slashdot hivemind since 2002.
  3. Re:And your point is? by russ1337 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    >>> ....knows there is a difference between CNN.com and MySpace.com when it comes to community discourse

    Let me guess: One is full of sexy pictures, trash, lies and people manipulating the truth, the other is myspace?