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Australian Government Backdoor Internet Filter Shuts Down 1,000 Websites

Posted by Soulskill on from the protecting-you-from-yourselves dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Australian government has secretly censored over 1,000 web sites through a hitherto-unused internet censorship law. In April the Melbourne Free University was blocked without any explanation. Section 313 of the Telecommunications Act allows the government to close web sites without warning to "uphold laws, protect public revenue and safeguard national security". This is open to abuse as Australians only have limited free speech rights which already make it difficult for the press to report corruption."

2 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Too bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Whilst funny, Fosters is not popular in Australia and is rarely seen

  2. Re:Too bad by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 2, Informative

    My daughter got to survive her very difficult birth thanks to free Australian medical care.

    Which would have bankrupted her mum and me had we stayed in the States to get married and settle, as we were penniless at the time, even assuming that we'd been able to get the care they needed in the US, without being able to prove we could pay for it first.

    Just thought you might like to know.

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.