PM's website hacked in censorship protest

10 Sep 2009, 8:00 am   -   Source: AAP/SBS
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The hacker attacked the websites in protest at plans for an internet filter, saying the move amounted to censorship

The hacker attacked the websites in protest at plans for an internet filter, saying the move amounted to censorship

The prime minister's website has been hacked in a protest over proposed reforms of internet censorship.

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The prime minister's website has been hacked into in protest over proposed reforms of internet censorship.

The website, www.pm.gov.au, was brought down at about 1920 (AEST) on Wednesday, along with that of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, but both were back online about an hour later.

A message posted on the Inquisitor website by the hacker, known as Anonymous, stated that the action was in response to a federal government proposal to introduce mandatory internet filtering.

The posting complains that the proposal to introduce internet filtering would block legal content, and take censorship to levels like that seen in China.

"Not only will your rights be at stake, our Internet speeds will slow down by 70 per cent, be mandatory for all Aussies and will not protect us from evil AT ALL," the posting reads.

The posting, titled "Anonymous vs the Australian Government", also gives a blow-by-blow account of the hacker's progress.

'War on censorship'

"In two minutes from when I type this, Anonymous is declaring war on the Australian Government over its decision to implement Draconian internet censorship," the posting said.

"Tick tick tick.

"Update: 7pm: and so it begins.

"7:05pm (AEST), Ministers page is slow to load, but still up."

"7:11pm we've confirmed on site (via a source) that the sites due to be attacked have been taken down from the coordination page, possibly before the raid."

"7:18pm pm.gov.au DOWN!

"7:21pm Kevin Rudd's page is down completely. Strike one to Anonymous."

Internet filter trial

A spokesman for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said he had received reports of the hack but could not confirm whether the attack had been successful.

However, he said the people responsible were misguided, adding that the proposed filter would only be used to block illegal content.

"The campaign that they're mounting is erroneous and misinformed," he said.

"What the government is proposing is to filter refused classification content which includes imagery of child sexual abuse, rape and bestiality."

The government has been conducting an internet filter trial which is expected to be completed soon.

A report will then be presented to Senator Conroy from which an internet filter policy will be developed.

 

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Your Comments

what is the use

Hannah B - from Gladstone, 3 years ago

If the government is considering this filter they should think it though more and concider everyone. Students studying cirtain topics at uni and high school will be searching topics on the internet more and more in the years to come and with this filter they will be blocked. the idea is a good one but they need to think about what they are doing and how it will affect everyone not just those younge people(aged 10 and below) who have the knowlage to access inapproite sites

It won't happen

Jessiny - from Queensland, 3 years ago

The governments are slowly turning the world into clones, does every country need to be rule stricken, more rules and more controll just equal in more rebelliousness and war. The internet is always expanding, will always change and will always be too powerful to control. No matter what extent the government goes to to filter the internet, they wont be able to blacklist everything and controll the amount of harmfull material released.

Dangerous content, filter far more so

Rudi - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

The content should be banned and it should be made illegal for people to watch it and this should be enforced using forensic technology and police investigation. However, the consequences of imposing a government mandated information filter upon the people of Australia is far more dangerous as it has the potential to be manipulated in order to eat away at the fabric of our democracy.

What is success?

Matt - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

This whole internet filter process has been a badly managed joke.
The major ISPs are not participating in the 'trial'.
No success criteria for the 'trial' has ever been published.
Leaked black lists have shown that not just illegal content will be blocked.
The krudd government is again heading down a foolish path, ignoring all insustry advice and guidance.
Any filter will impact internet speeds such that the National Broadband Network will be a complete waste of money.

Misguided?

Daniel E, - from Karratha, 3 years ago

How can you use the internet to stop practices and activities older than the internet itself?
These practices will still exist after the filter - they will evolve, become more expensive to access, become more attractive as a business but most of all will still exist.
And as usual the Australian govt would have done what it always does "cut the leg and not heal it".

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