Internet filter is 'not censorship'

13 Apr 2010, 7:27 am   -   Source: AAP
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Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the federal government's plan to bring in a mandatory internet filter is a modest regulatory measure that will combat illegal activity. (AAP)

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the federal government's plan to bring in a mandatory internet filter is a modest regulatory measure that will combat illegal activity. (AAP)

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the federal government's plan to bring in a mandatory internet filter is a modest regulatory measure that will combat illegal activity.

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Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the federal government's plan to bring in a mandatory internet filter is a modest regulatory measure that will combat illegal activity.

In a speech to The Sydney Institute Senator Conroy's again defended the plan against opponents who believe it's akin to censorship saying having no regulation to combat illegal activity weakens what's good about the internet.

The Federal Government's $128.8 million Cyber Safety policy includes legislation to block access to certain websites and blacklist offensive material.

"The internet is an incredible piece of technology and in our lifetime it's unlikely we'll see anything like it again," he said.

"But for all its technical brilliance, the internet is a distribution and communications platform.

"Having no regulation to combat illegal activity actually weakens all that is good about the internet."

The federal government's $128.8 million Cyber Safety policy includes legislation to block access to certain websites and blacklist offensive material.

The policy has been widely criticised by internet and software companies and free speech supporters.

But Senator Conroy said it can't remain largely unregulated.

"With great opportunity, comes even greater responsibility, and having sensible, appropriate protections in place is also the role of government," he said.

"There are some who want to argue that on the internet, people should be able to publish anything they like - regardless of whether it contravenes laws in the off-line world."

Senator Conroy said ISP level filtering alone was not enough to help fight child pornography or keep children safe online, which was why the government supported the block of content such as child sexual abuse imagery and material advocating terrorism.

"This is a modest measure, which reflects long held community standards about the type of content that is unacceptable in a civilised society," he said.

"Those who claim the government's approach is akin to the sort of political censorship practiced by authoritarian regimes are simply misleading the Australian public."
 

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dave - from undefined, 2 years ago

Hi Emil. You realize that the Censorship scheme will block material that is LEGAL to view and own. After all illegal material is only a small subset of Refused Classification. If you want to discourage real life criminal activities, fund Law Enforcement better so they can arrest the perpetrators for their ILLEGAL activities. Also get the sites taken down (banks can get fake sites taken down in 24 hours) instead of getting them classified (up to 3 months) and then put on the SECRET blacklist.

not china,iran or korea.here australia

thomas - from australia, 2 years ago

It's great to see the electorate is rejecting this filter, it says something about Australian common sense and bull*hit detection skills.

This is Definitely Censorship

Concerned - from ACT, 2 years ago

Conroy's plan is censorship in the purest form. Furthermore, it will NOT stop pedophiles as these people are ill and need mental help. The filtering is against anything that someone MIGHT find offensive - that is censorship and complete crap. He's filtering all kinds of stuff and that's not what the internet is about. What's next - burning books? Censoring music? Delaying Television broadcasts so they can be censored to? Call it what you want Conroy - it's just plain censorship!

Big Brother

David - from Melbourne, 2 years ago

Privately,Western Governments envy the Chinese censorship over the internet to restrict public access and control all forms of information. Imagine not knowing about the facts that K.Rudd has taken a massive hit in the polls and becoming increasingly unpopular or the incompetence of politicians surrounding the insulation debacle? What are other open sources of public information are on the agenda that will be targeted that have yet to be revealed? Hands off the internet Conroy you do not own it!

Censorship effective only as a gesture

Zan - from Perth, 2 years ago

As the only valid argument for an internet filter is the prevention of access to illegal material, it fails to be convincing. Not only would monitoring websites blacklisted for such material for activity by Australian ISPs serve a more effective purpose, but, as others have stated, censoring these websites will in no way contribute to halting such material being accessed via the numerous file storage websites wherein they may be kept surreptitiously, much less the vast traffic of P2P networks.

Mr.

Emil - from Perth, 2 years ago

I agree with Stephen Conroy. We have laws and punitive measures to discourage real-life criminal activities - why not the internet which has many criminals operating freely ?

this is bullshit

Adriaan - from anywhere, 2 years ago

anyone who beleives this crap is unbeleivable it is so political censorship. it is our free right to have full access to the internet and this will just onvc again limit our rights in this country. well done conroy u undemoncratic politican.

Kiddy porn is shared P2P!

Jacq - from Sydney, 2 years ago

Senator Conroy still is not listening. Pedophilia material is mostly shared Peer-to-Peer - he is not going to stomp it out by blocking a number of M15+ sites. I think one of the things that scares us most is that there is no visibility of what will be blocked under this crusade. Parents should be using a nanny net to block their children from inappropriate material. I can tell you now, I have never accidently clicked on porn, I have never heard of children doing so either. Not everyone is six!

Conroy doesnt get it....

realist - from sydney, 2 years ago

If you restrict access to content, that is censorship. Can we trust the govt not to lie? No we cant. Can we trust this "filter" not to become copvert politically driven censorhip and control? Not if history is any guide. Can we trust Mr "Opus D*i" Conroy? no we cant. INTERNET FILTERING IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC.

Senator Conroy does not understand how the internet works

anonymous - from Mid North Coast, 2 years ago

The proposed filter internet system will NOT stop illegal and blacklisted content from being published or viewed and it will only slow down and interfere with the internet and cause irreparable damage to Australia's International reputation, and continue Australia's total and utter mismanagement of the important Telecommunications portfolio over the last 20 years. Any public proxy or VPN service will bypass the proposed filter system and these have been used by many internet users for years.

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