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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."

6 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. If a government makes it hard to report corruption by kawabago · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They must be thoroughly corrupt.

  2. but...but by WillgasM · · Score: 4, Funny

    the Backdoor Internet is my favorite Internet.

  3. Re:Too bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But don't forget the median household income is $43,960 and they have 5.6% unemployment. Free healthcare and education. So don't get too crazy about free speech and all. They can go at least another 20 years before they have sold the whole country to China.

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

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

  5. Re:If a government makes it hard to report corrupt by jc42 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What do you expect from a country that originally had a white population from only two different groups: Criminals, and jailers?

    Reminds me of a quip from an Aussie acquaintance a few years ago: He said he was happy that Australia got the criminals and America got the religious groups.

    Of course, that's not really relevant to this issue. Politicians anywhere should be assumed corrupt and on the take unless they can prove otherwise. And laws limiting the population's access to information about their government's inner workings are de-facto proof of the "otherwise".

    --
    Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
  6. Re:Too bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    just goes to show you know nothing but Aussies:
    - they don't drink fosters (that's for yank tourists)
    - they have 'utes' - not pickup trucks
    - they're macho because they don't assume that everything said to them is a veiled insult
    - and the women chase the men - usually with sticks and knives.

    But thanks for illustrating the difference between us and you ;)