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Australia Plans to Censor the Internet

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the yeah-good-luck-with-that-mate dept.

SenatorLuddite writes "From January 20, 2008 new content laws introduced by the Federal Government will force sites to verify the age of users before accessing content intended for mature audiences (MA15+ and R18+). The laws bring internet classification into line with Film and Book classification laws and completely prohibits X18+ and RC content from the internet. ACMA (The Australian Communications and Media Authority) claims that adults will not be affected by the new laws, yet user-generated and even chatrooms are required to be assessed for classification and powers are granted to ACMA to send 'take down' notices to offending sites."

9 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. This will solve itself... by MostAwesomeDude · · Score: 1, Funny

    Just wait until they try to shut down 4chan. The Internet Hate Machine will sort things out.

    --
    ~ C.
    1. Re:This will solve itself... by meringuoid · · Score: 3, Funny
      Just wait until they try to shut down 4chan. The Internet Hate Machine will sort things out.

      In the UK, BT's internet service blocks /b/. It's on some blacklist because, well, you know that bear mascot of theirs? Yeah. That stuff. To their credit they left the rest of 4chan alone, which is impressive given that if they blocked /b/ they must at least have looked at what goes on in /d/.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  2. Re:The ACMA should learn to proofread its claims by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    what's the primary audience for X18+? Children?

    Well, if it's anything like the X rating here in the U.S., I'd say ... yeah, pretty much.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  3. Huh? by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Australia Plans to Censor the Internet

    Yeah well ... good luck with that.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  4. thumbs up by Corson · · Score: 2, Funny

    it would be great and all countries should follow suit, provided it works out.

  5. Re:Is it really a bad thing? by Devoidoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Seems to me "the fuck of the internet" is exactly what they're trying to ban.

  6. Re:Is it really a bad thing? by flyingfsck · · Score: 2, Funny

    "only to live services"

    So necromancer sites will not be regulated?

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  7. Re:Ahh yes, the "benefits" of tax fed governments. by Clay+Pigeon+-TPF-VS- · · Score: 2, Funny

    In the worst case scenario you can always vote from the rooftops. Oh wait, even airsoft is illegal in Australia. You and Britain can enjoy your police states, while in America corrupt politicians have nightmares of crazy libertarians voting with a .30-06.

    --
    Viral software licensing is not freedom, it is in fact GNU/Socialism.
  8. Who cares? by Dash+Hash · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who cares about sex and porn? That stuff is so over-rated, it's pathetic.

    Now, murder (and violence in general), showing people's heads get splattered against a wall, watching people get thrown through a window and land twenty stories below in a heap of gore, watching people get skinned alive, now /that/ stuff is the good stuff!

    All this talk about penises and vaginae and sex is just so tiring.
    I think I'll go watch a few murder movies to get my mind off it.

    --
    Calling a sword by a pretty name is no more than adding perfume to poison.