Australian Government Backdoor Internet Filter Shuts Down 1,000 Websites

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."

Comments

Too bad

[ickleberry]

The locals are too busy sitting on the tailgate of their shiny pickup truck (bought on credit) drinking tins of Fosters and acting the macho man to do anything about it.

Or else they are off chasing some blonde from Home & Away. Anyway censorship and freedom of speech are fairly low on the agenda