Slashdot Mirror
Australian Internet Filter Enters Trial Phase
blake writes "News.com.au reports "The Government's plan to have internet service providers filter pornography and other internet content deemed inappropriate for children is going full-steam ahead. [...] The trial will evaluate ISP-level internet content filters in a controlled environment while filtering content inappropriate for children." It all sounds in good taste, and we are told that you will be able to opt out at any time, but will putting this filter in place simply give the powers that be the ability to block access to content for their own agendas. Censorship may be necessary, but should it be overseen by Government."
Here we go with the next phase of the plan. The sad thing is they don't even realize "operation nanny state" is actually a cover for (queue ep iii palpatine voice) ABSOLUTE POWER!!!!
Let me guess... you're a Liberal voter right ? All I can say is THANK GOD its Labor and not the Liberals bringing this in. Yes it should be opt-in, not opt-out. Yes there is an argument that its not the role of government to be undertaking this in anycase, but if this type of system was ever going to be abused by our Government, then the Liberals would be the first to do so. John Howard and co. went hand-in-hand with George Bush when it came to individual rights and the rights of its citizens in general, and the lot that replaced them would do NO BETTER. The Liberals dropped 84 million on a piece of filtering software that a 16 year old broke in 15 minutes straight out of the box. The Liberals are full-throttle big business and couldn't give a toss about kids online. The filtering software they DID put out was to win votes and look like they were doing something, not actually aimed at solving the problem (Almost any person in IT could have told them their filtering software was crap but they blew $100mill anyway - and yes, they were looking at mandatory filtering at the ISP level as well.. and no... there wouldn't have been an option to opt out, let alone opt in) The Liberals are a xenophobic bunch of big business neo-cons reelected time and time again to protect us during the "war on terror". They've served their purpose... divided the country right down the middle and turned people against each other, and now, thankfully, they're gone. The idea that these neo-cons have our best intentions at heart when it comes to censorship is laughable. If Labor want to try and nanny state us for a while until they realise is still doesnt work then fine... at least I have options. As for Internet censorship in general...yes. Please think of the children. Put the computer in the lounge room. Its cheap. It works. End of story.