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Australian ISPs Soon To Become Copyright Cops
srjh writes "In the Australian Federal Government's latest assault on the internet, draft legislation has been released that allows network operators to intercept communications to ensure that their networks are being 'appropriately used.' Such legislation is particularly important given the interference of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in a recent copyright lawsuit against iiNet, one of the largest ISPs in the country. Conroy called prominent filtering opponent iiNet's inaction over copyright infringement 'stunning,' whereas iiNet claimed that it would be illegal under current Australian law to intercept its users' downloads. While this latest legislation appears to be a concession of that point, the government is said to be watching the case closely and along with attempts to introduce a three-strikes law in Australia, it appears the law will be changed if the government dislikes the outcome of the case. The internet villain of the year just continues to earn his title."
What stops more servers using HTTPS to get around this? All Internet communication should even have basic encryption.
From watching him in various public speeches, I begin to suspect that this Pommie wanna-be Aussie Senator Conroy actually believes he is doing the right thing and genuinely believes he is fighting for the good of the children, and that's all mate. Ignorant, naive, incompetent, complacent or actively plotting (take your pick - nobody knows but him) that the tools he is pushing for will become powerful weapons of political and corporate-profit maintaining control later on down that long track. "I would use this ring from a desire to do good... But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine"... If only Senator Conroy could be so wise.
It's probably worth reading between the lines here.
Along with trying to get ISPs to remove all pornography from the internet (laughable, yes, but if you look at the current legislation and current filtering policy, this is exactly what they want to do), the Australian government has been strongly backing copyright lawsuits against ISPs for not snooping on its users.
This isn't just "we're allowing you to monitor your own networks", it's "monitor your networks for us, or suffer the consequences".
Meanwhile, across the sea in the United States, the 'Land of the Free,' various employees of various music/movie/video game agencies are taking notes. They're following this with a keen eye. If it works in Australia, why can't it work here?
Pretty soon, files such as Bellsouth Sucks.txt and Comcast Blows.rtf will be blocked in the US due to 'copyright infringement.'
Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
If a Double Dissolution happens Turnbull (or another Lib, I doubt Turnbull could run) that might just happen, so long as no-one utters the words "work choices" they should get in.
It's bad that we have to choose between two parties, one who wants to be a dictator over my home life and one who wants to be a dictator over my work life.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
"The ballet box is the only way to get rid of these goons."
No it isn't, because Liberal will implement basically the same polcies. We don't have a viable third party so for the forseeable future we will be at the mercy of the same bunch of goons (Labour/Liberal).
you've described the voting system correctly in all but name - it is NOT first past the post. It IS preferential. First-past-the-post describes the one vote, winner takes all (without having the win the majority) system that is employed in the US.
We've got a saying around here: If elections could change anything, they would be prohibited.
The way governments are expanding their power all across the western "democracies", the only thing that will be able to change anything is a ballet with U.
For the time being, teaching people how to use foreign VPNs is still adequate. It's just a matter of time before shit will hit the fan, though. Oppression never ends peacefully, unfortunately.
I just don't understand where this government's sentiment comes from!! I live in a country that is full of people who are easy going, enjoy life, and who are generally quite non-idealistic - we do not tend to have the passion for politics and causes and pep-talks that seems to drive a lot of US-centric life. And yet the government takes these crazy stands that are SO against the Australian way of living!!
If successful, then it's the UK, then the US, then the rest of the world.
By the way, if governments cared about other things as much as they care about copyright infringement, things would be so much better...
Yes, you do have a say. I contributed to the Green Paper on the Service Card, which was in danger of being owned by Motorola and Gemsmart. It was people like me, giving valid clear technically correct explanations of the failings of that "backdoor ID card" that resulted in it being a no-go. When have YOU been a part of the process - there's nothing to stop you! Have you petitioned parliament? Written to your local member? Shown up to ALP branch meetings and asked polite, informed but pointed questions? It's when everyone says "we have no power over the people we elect" that we give up our power. Fact is that if enough people go on record (by the 3 means I listed above) then politicians listen, purely out of self interest.
Being australian, and being part of the (very muchly mostly useless) mesh network project in AU, here's my thoughts:
#1- Australian landscape (mountains, bush, vast distances) isn't compatible with mesh networks.
#2 - You need to get the connection to the internet at some stage.
Exactly,
When push comes to shove you can always count on a polly's survival instinct. All you have to do is convince them they are about to lose their job. Most people have no say in government because they don't get involved. Become part of an interest group like the EFA or a the very least write a letter. All Western Australian's got a say in Daylight Savings changes earlier in the year, despite the fact it did not pass (I voted YES) I did get my say. There is no way you can say you cant change government, most people just say that to console themselves with the fact they never tried.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
And how do you propose to link this mesh network to other networks? Its not like you can just plug into the Southern Cross Cable or Australia-Japan Cable to get connectivity to the outside world. Nor can you just plug into fiber links between all the different isolated towns and cities that would be part of this network (and even if it was possible to string up enough wireless boxes to go from Sydney to Melbourne, the latency would be so big as to render it unusable).
I just call him Senator Conjob, it's shorter.
All power corrupts... absolute power corrupts absolutely.
If any other parties will introduce the same policies, it sounds like it might be time for a public uprising... VIVE LA REVOLUTION!
Evolution - Est. 4500000000 B.C. Don't piss in the gene pool.
The big difference between Australia's responsiveness to the populace and the U.S.'s is population size. Australia has a population of about 22 million. The U.S. has a population of over 300 million. The smaller the population the more responsive a democratic government is to the will of the people. As the population gets larger the easier it is to play off people who care about one issue against people who care about other issues. Additionally, as the population gets larger the more people one needs to get riled up to change the outcome of an election.
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
A note to readers outside Australia, although this group call themselves Christian they are really so far from the mainstream that they would mistake Jesuits for Communists. I am sure that Jesus would instead call them the merchants in the temple.