Australian Government Redacts Anti-Piracy Consultation Paper

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Australian Government Redacts Anti-Piracy Consultation Paper

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday October 16, 2011 @07:30AM from the on-second-thought dept.

First time accepted submitter coolstoryhansel writes "You might have heard the Australian Attorney-General published a consultation paper considering the implementation of a streamlined process of getting private information about subscribers from ISPs? Well perhaps not. The Attorney-General's Department have now apparently redacted that document, removing all mention of the controversial proposal, without telling anyone."

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I wonder... by Lockyy · 2011-10-16 07:38 · Score: 1

Backlash made them rethink it? Or just pretending to go back on it, to reveal it all at the last moment again?
1. Re:I wonder... by Cryacin · 2011-10-16 08:19 · Score: 1
  
  More like the cheque hasn't cleared yet.
  
  --
  Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
2. Re:I wonder... by Sulphur · 2011-10-16 09:12 · Score: 1
  
  Well perhaps not. The Attorney-General's Department have now apparently redacted that document, removing all mention of the controversial proposal, without telling anyone."
  Welcome psychic overlords.
3. Re:I wonder... by jezwel · 2011-10-16 15:12 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Backlash made them rethink it? Or just pretending to go back on it, to reveal it all at the last moment again?
  From the update:
  The following statement has been received from the Attorney-General’s Department: The Safe Harbour consultation paper is currently on the AGD website. Comments are due by 22 November 2011. The Department is currently working on a number of copyright policy issues relevant to the digital environment. A draft document which incorporated other issues not included in the Safe Harbour review was mistakenly posted on the Departmental website. It was removed as soon as the error came to light. A clarification will be posted on the website. We believe that the ongoing departmental convened discussions between ISPs and content owners is currently the most appropriate forum to address these issues. The relevant page - with email address for submitting your feedback is here.
  IMO they were caught out with too much detail and are now backpedalling
  At this time I think besides feedback to the AG, you could discuss this with your federal MP or even your senator.
  Don't forget to give your opinion about the NBN!
4. Re:I wonder... by davester666 · 2011-10-16 19:12 · Score: 2
  
  More like it was supposed to be buried in some 4000 page group of laws mainly focused on say, traffic, that would get passed without much debate.
  
  --
  Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
5. Re:I wonder... by BrokenHalo · 2011-10-17 01:07 · Score: 1
  
  IMO they were caught out with too much detail and are now backpedalling
  Well, the current government isn't exactly running on a tide of voter popularity at the moment (or ever, for that matter, in this electoral term), and it needs the margin percentages to crawl out of the single-digits. Of course, they could always consider the option of taking a stand on something worthwhile to differentiate themselves in some way from the opposition, but that doesn't seem likely to happen.
Confused, misspoken? by bryan1945 · 2011-10-16 07:39 · Score: 2

TFA says that 2 sections were removed from the original document. Redacting is different from removal, as one just hides text while the other just makes it go bye-bye. Plus there were some other edits and additions. Shouldn't this be viewed as 'version 2.0' as opposed to 'redacted?' Yes, it seems they tried to slide the changes by quietly, but the word redacted encompasses a whole different set of issues.

--
Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
1. Re:Confused, misspoken? by JasterBobaMereel · 2011-10-17 01:17 · Score: 1
  
  1) Consultation paper - not published outside the government, so they do not need to tell anyone ... no-one to tell
  2) Removed from the paper , not redacted (hidden) removed as in no longer in the paper
  In other news government changes unpublished document internally and no-one notices ...
  
  --
  Puteulanus fenestra mortis
My question... by mlts · 2011-10-16 07:50 · Score: 1

Will they actually use a redact feature in their document editor, or do black font on black background (or just draw a black rectangle object over the text)?
1. Re:My question... by Arancaytar · 2011-10-16 08:01 · Score: 1
  
  The latter, and then complain about those evil pirate hackers who figured out how to read the censored text.
2. Re:My question... by PPH · 2011-10-16 08:08 · Score: 2
  
  Why not just outlaw highlight, copy and paste functions as tools of DRM circumvention. Violating WIPO treaties and prohibited (in the USA) by the DMCA.
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
3. Re:My question... by crutchy · 2011-10-16 08:22 · Score: 1
  
  politicians aren't that good at using a word processor - they'll probably outsource any redacting to a contractor
4. Re:My question... by mjwx · 2011-10-16 13:42 · Score: 1
  
  Will they actually use a redact feature in their document editor, or do black font on black background (or just draw a black rectangle object over the text)?
  Nope, a public servant used black paint on his monitor.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
5. Re:My question... by sempir · 2011-10-17 04:20 · Score: 1
  
  Why are they redacting this document? Who dacted it wrongly in the first place? Do they not teach dacting in Australian Law Schools?
  
  --
  A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Double plus good, Citizen! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 07:56 · Score: 1

Down the memory hole.
Oxford comma that, damnit. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 08:20 · Score: 0, Offtopic

I judge everybody based upon their use of oxford commas.
You're currently failing.
1. Re:Oxford comma that, damnit. by syousef · 2011-10-16 08:27 · Score: 1, Offtopic
  
  I judge everybody based upon their use of oxford commas.
  You're currently failing.
  Well then I judge you by your use of capitalization. You're currently failing. Oxford is a proper noun.
  
  --
  These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
2. Re:Oxford comma that, damnit. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 08:51 · Score: -1, Offtopic
  
  "Proper"? Well, la-di-da, mr MC Hammer. Oxford is a freaking name of a place. We put big letters on those, frenchie.
Phew! I was getting worried. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 09:53 · Score: -1, Offtopic

An hour had gone by on Slashdot without an Australian story. But luckily samzenpus has saved the day.
Up next: "Australian Man Buys New iPod".
Followed by: "Australian Teen Discovers C#".
Then: "Australian Telco Does Something Or Other".
And: "Australians Beg World To Love Them Long Time".
Finally: "Australians Unfriend World For Failing To Love Them Long Time".
Epilogue: "Several Slashdot Editors Commit Suicide-By-Dingo".
And nothing of value was lost...
1. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 10:21 · Score: -1
  
  Here is a list of defining qualities of Americans :
  1) Morbidly obese
  2) Insanely religious
  3) Loud and arrogant
  4) Ignorant and barely literate
  5) Predominantly homosexual
  6) Greedy and conniving beyond belief
  7) Economically, politically and morally bankrupt
  With qualities like that it's little wonder you stupid fucking yanks are so jealous of Australia. I would tell you to fuck off and die but you are already doing that. Australia will hold a little memorial service for you once we've finished taking over the World. Nah, we won't.
2. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by DarkAxi0m · 2011-10-16 10:36 · Score: 1
  
  we've finished taking over the World...
  What part of Australia are you from? That sounds like a lot of work... I just want to go to the beach. :/
3. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by qxcv · 2011-10-16 11:00 · Score: 1
  
  My guess: Tasmania.
  
  --
  "The most dangerous enemy of a better solution is an existing codebase that is just good enough." -- Eric S. Raymond
4. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by causality · 2011-10-16 11:21 · Score: 1
  
  1) Morbidly obese
  2) Insanely religious
  3) Loud and arrogant
  4) Ignorant and barely literate
  Man, you nailed it with those four. These are never discussed very openly but by repeated example they are promoted as virtues. The message is, you must really be something special if you can afford to be like this. I.e. "you'd be loud and arrogant too, if only you had the confidence", as though you could not be confident and assertive without needlessly imposing on others. I think a whole generation of never allowing kids to feel real defeat and always telling them how special they are to give them false self-esteem has made them a bunch of insecure idiots who constantly feel a need to compensate with a lot of false bravado.
  
  The obesity one is especially noticable. Personally, I hardly view it as a physical issue. I see it as a mental disease. A healthy, sound mind would do something about it during its early stages and would never even make the transition from "overweight" to "obese", let alone from "obese" to "morbidly obese". It takes time to accumulate 50-100 pounds of excess body fat. It is not something that can suddenly sneak up on you.
  
  It's so basic, there are only two things to understand: 1) if you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight and 2) only an insane person practices the same habits over and over and expects a different result. If what you're doing now makes you gain weight, you can expect to continue gaining weight if you don't change. How much simpler could it get? If the suggestion that you as an adult person should be able to comprehend and practice simple things offends you, I am sure you can find a nice big emotional bucket of comfort food to use like a drug to get your few minutes' relief.
  
  The other items you gave better describe the US government. Most of the regular folk aren't this way. They've just had the wool pulled over their eyes for entire generations and have come to believe it is merely the way of things.
  
  --
  It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
5. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by _merlin · 2011-10-16 11:29 · Score: 1
  
  Nah, if he was from Tasmania he's be too busy shagging his cousin to vote. You know you can marry your cousin in Tasmania. (Yes, I realise you can legally marry your cousin anywhere in Australia. Never let facts get in the way of giving Tasmanians shit, or Kiwis for that matter.)
6. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by dwywit · 2011-10-16 11:39 · Score: 0
  
  Hang on - was that meant to be "giving shit to taswegians and giving shit to kiwis", or "giving shit and kiwis to taswegians"?
  
  These things are important.
  
  --
  They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
7. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by Macgrrl · 2011-10-16 12:16 · Score: 1
  
  It takes time to accumulate 50-100 pounds of excess body fat. It is not something that can suddenly sneak up on you.
  
  I have this sudden vision of a ball of adipose floating around trying to sneak it's way up on Victoria Beckham, hiding behind street lights every time she looks around, ducking into doorwarys, lurking behind parked cars, inching closer and closer.
  
  --
  Sara
  Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
8. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by retchdog · 2011-10-16 12:57 · Score: 1
  
  well, only (5) is false; but you added (4) and (6) as if they're bad things. loud and greedy arrogance is actually mostly harmless fun if you're not ignorant and economically; politically; and morally bankrupt.
  alas, we are.
  
  --
  "They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
9. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by _merlin · 2011-10-16 13:35 · Score: 0
  
  Isn't taswegia just evidence that kiwis can swim? (To answer the question, I meant "giving shit to taswegieans and kiwis.")
10. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 20:24 · Score: 0
  
  What are you talking about. Australia wants nothing other than to be the US with an accent. Everyone there desperately wants to be just liek the US. It's sad really. You'd think that someone so desperate to be something would pick something better to emulate.
11. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by causality · 2011-10-17 02:32 · Score: 1
  
  It takes time to accumulate 50-100 pounds of excess body fat. It is not something that can suddenly sneak up on you.
  I have this sudden vision of a ball of adipose floating around trying to sneak it's way up on Victoria Beckham, hiding behind street lights every time she looks around, ducking into doorwarys, lurking behind parked cars, inching closer and closer.
  Hah. That might be enough for me to believe "it's not my fault!" etc. Or I'd just say she needs better situational awareness.
  
  --
  It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
12. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-17 06:53 · Score: 0
  
  You can only hope, Lardy McFatCow
13. Re:Phew! I was getting worried. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-17 09:11 · Score: 0
  
  Toy me kengeroo dern, spurt,
  Toy me kengeroo durn!
  Australians have such lovely accents. When you speak, it's like fingers down a blackboard. Australian chicks can etch glass with their voices. They sound like a hyena that has got its nuts caught on electrified barbwire.
TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by gottspeed · 2011-10-16 10:02 · Score: 1

TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. Before it comes to Canada. Historically they push through all the fascist draconian policies there in Aus first as a test run before deployment in the rest of the commonwealth.
1. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 10:48 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Actually it's already coming to Canada. Lots of nice Conservative omnibus bills with presents like this hidden around. Australia is just waiting for Canada to force it through first. Then they can argue that they're merely harmonizing with Canada.
  The Conservatives have a bill that will change PIPEDA, Canada's privacy legislation. It will "streamline the process of getting private information about subscribers from ISPs". And there are very few checks, balances, controls in the bill. Law enforcement can call the ISP up without a warrant, and without needing to show that the request is part of a criminal investigation. Private corporations can call up the ISP for info if they're only considering maybe filing a civil suit against some third party. Law enforcement or other government agency requests can even be made secret, also without a warrant, so the subscriber never knows their information was pulled.
  These assholes aren't your daddy's conservative party.
2. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 10:57 · Score: 0
  
  We currently have a labor, minority government, with a lot of power to
  the greens and independents.
  A lot of us like it exactly like it is. :-)
  I'd be more worried about Harper than Gillard, if I were you...
3. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by fostware · 2011-10-16 10:58 · Score: 2
  
  Oh FSM no...
  While our government needs a serious clip 'round the ears to bring them back into reality (and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy given an sulphuric acid enema), the opposition party are the right-wing Liberals - the kind that pander to the xenophobic "F--- Off, We're Full!" brigade. (Seriously 2000 asylum seekers a year and we panic? Don't tell Pakistan or Egypt!)
  If we went to a military war because our Liberal Prime Minister of the time was hanging on every word of George Bush, do you think copyright escalation wars are going to make them bat an eyelid?
  We're screwed either way, but at least with a somewhat minority government, anything's possible.
  
  --
  "We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over." - Aneurin Bevan
4. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by jonwil · 2011-10-16 12:17 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The problem seems to be that the Attorney General (and other government ministers including the communications minister) are trying to do backroom deals with ISPs and copyright holders in order to do an end run around the need to get legislation through a potentially-hostile parliament.
  The content producers are basically telling governments all over the world that unless they "streamline" the methods used to target pirates (and by that they really mean "give us a way to sue people without that pesky step of needing to collect evidence that would hold up in court"), they will all go out of business. But that's total garbage, what they are REALLY worried about is that they will no longer be the "gatekeepers" of what people watch, listen to and consume.
5. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by mjwx · 2011-10-16 13:09 · Score: 2
  
  Oh FSM no...
  While our government needs a serious clip 'round the ears to bring them back into reality (and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy given an sulphuric acid enema), the opposition party are the right-wing Liberals - the kind that pander to the xenophobic "F--- Off, We're Full!" brigade. (Seriously 2000 asylum seekers a year and we panic? Don't tell Pakistan or Egypt!)
  If we went to a military war because our Liberal Prime Minister of the time was hanging on every word of George Bush, do you think copyright escalation wars are going to make them bat an eyelid?
  We're screwed either way, but at least with a somewhat minority government, anything's possible.
  And the constipated angry right wingers constantly fail to understand why the Greens are so popular. As well as being the only party that wants to know about you if you're under 30 and have no kids, they are also the only party that cares about freedom.
  
  On a side note, I support the "F*ck off we're full" crowd and propose, if we are so full we should support mandatory castration, starting with the F*ck off we're full crowd.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
6. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by mjwx · 2011-10-16 13:14 · Score: 1
  
  TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. Before it comes to Canada. Historically they push through all the fascist draconian policies there in Aus first as a test run before deployment in the rest of the commonwealth.
  Uh, no they dont. Remember that Canada has the "piracy tax" whilst Oz doesn't.
  
  Secondly, you'll find the source of both our law problems at the moment is external to the commonwealth, you know who they are and do you think they'll stop with us.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
7. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by fostware · 2011-10-16 14:59 · Score: 1
  
  On a side note, I support the "F*ck off we're full" crowd and propose, if we are so full we should support mandatory castration, starting with the F*ck off we're full crowd.
  I've started my bit with a sticker that reads:-
  "F*ck off, we're full
  (of racist immigrants from 200 years ago)"
  but I'm not sure the target audience can understand three-syllable words...
  
  --
  "We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over." - Aneurin Bevan
8. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by mjwx · 2011-10-16 17:42 · Score: 1
  
  On a side note, I support the "F*ck off we're full" crowd and propose, if we are so full we should support mandatory castration, starting with the F*ck off we're full crowd.
  I've started my bit with a sticker that reads:-
  "F*ck off, we're full
  (of racist immigrants from 200 years ago)"
  but I'm not sure the target audience can understand three-syllable words...
  I was thinking along the lines of
  "When I say
  'F*ck off, we're full'
  I really mean
  'F*ck off, I'm racist'"
  
  And attaching them to the bumpers of people who have F*ck off, we're full stickers.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
9. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 23:22 · Score: 0
  
  enjoy sucking nigger cock, leftie
10. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by BrokenHalo · 2011-10-17 01:30 · Score: 1
  
  As well as being the only party that wants to know about you if you're under 30 and have no kids...
  From what I've seen anecdotally, the Greens have picked up a lot of support from the over-60s who have had enough of being shafted by both of the major parties. Plus, of course, they also seem to be able to claim a vote from the rare one or two middle-aged individuals who are able to muster a quorum of neurons on election day.
11. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by Killjoy_NL · 2011-10-17 02:19 · Score: 1
  
  If that is something he enjoys, then I hope I does that too :)
  
  --
  This is the sig that says NI (again)
12. Re:TOPPLE YOUR CRAPPY GOVERNMENT. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-18 01:02 · Score: 0
  
  Fail to understand why the greens are so popular?
  What, with 10% of the vote?
  No, they understand perfectly well why only latte-sipping inner-city trendie faux-intellectual communists and homosexuals vote for the watermelons.
  Funny isn't it, how the party that reckons it's all about the environment gets votes from those who are most disconnected from the natural world while those who are most in touch with nature vote for the "constipated conservative" LNP.
  The Greens have peaked and will decline going forward.
txeroll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 10:08 · Score: -1

us thE courtesy head spiining
Consultation paper un-document. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 10:15 · Score: 0

We were always at war with privacism!
Fifteen minutes of hate for Attorney-General Imanuel Goldstein!
Double plus good!
How clueless are you? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 11:36 · Score: 0

Australia finally threw out the worst of the fascist garbage in its last federal election whereas my dumbass fellow Canadians just handed a majority to the worst corporofascists possible.
You might want to educate your brain cell before you voice your 'opinion'.
1. Re:How clueless are you? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 14:47 · Score: 0
  
  From the polls though, looks like the same scumbags will be brought back in at the next election. Seems the conservative political tactics of "yell how the sky is falling no matter what the opposition is doing" is working as well here as in the States.
Corrupt Governments by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 12:25 · Score: 0

Governments seems to be run by those who write and understand the laws, and that group would be a very small percentile of society. I think it's time we brought out the guillotines.
We have a right to share any information unobstructed.
1. Re:Corrupt Governments by germansausage · 2011-10-16 14:46 · Score: 1
  
  percentile??? Don't you mean percentage?
Politics: PR Style! by VJmes · 2011-10-16 13:18 · Score: 1

Typical of the current Australian government, a politically sensitive policy that is redacted, classified or somehow protected as a trade secret. Rather than face legitimate scrutiny by the people paying for the project, the Australian government is currently more interested in public relations rather than developing sound policy.
women's short boots by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 14:42 · Score: -1

UGG women’s short boots , I bought these shoes in the summer of pale pink. They are comfortable, warm and ideal, I have been wearing a strap sandles for the 10-14 hours/days to heal, to walk before buying their long journey and shopping.
1. Re:women's short boots by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 19:04 · Score: 0
  
  Do they come in blue?
You can marry your grandmother in Australia by Sussurros · 2011-10-16 16:02 · Score: 1

As I recall it, in Australia you can marry almost anyone, including your aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, even grandmother. You cannot marry your mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, or grandfather. I've never heard of anyone that close getting married though - just imagine the wedding though: Friend of the bride or the groom? Yes.

--
I said - don't look Ethel!..., but it was too late..., she'd already looked.
buzzingstreet by Anonymous Coward · 2011-10-16 17:39 · Score: 0

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