From: gemsling	Date: January 1st, 2008 02:11 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Though I believe it would be a bad idea, I could understand a government requiring that ISPs offer network-level filtering.

Requiring that it be filtered by default and that people must opt out is outrageous. I guess it makes sense though - maybe they realise that people don't want such filtering, and they don't want to look stupid when the adoption rate is shown to be minimal.

What bugs me most about this is the way Conroy is mixing issues. He says: "If people equate freedom of speech with watching child pornography, then the Rudd-Labor Government is going to disagree."

Referring to child pornography is a misleading and irresponsible use of emotive argument. Practically everyone is against child pornography and since it's illegal, the best way to deal with it is through prosecution, not filters.

The filters he's proposing are not for child pornography, but for pornography and violence generally.

Talking about the speed of the Internet also seems like a red herring to me. I guess some people would be concerned about that. But surely the big issue here is the potential harm that could arise once a large proportion of the population are having their Internet access filtered by default.

The only good news in that article is the promise to engage "the sector" before they force it on the unsuspecting masses. It would be nice if they also engaged parents, children and educators.

One last question before I finish this rant: why are there no other initiatives being announced to protect children online? Filtering is a partial (and possibly ineffective) solution to a broader problem.

Who's going to help educate children about what to expect online and how to deal with bullies, stalkers, legalities, etc.? Who's going to help the parents educate their children? Where are the resources to actively protect children onlnine, beyond the implementation of a set-and-forget filtering regime?

Okay, that last question had sub-questions. I'll stop now.

	From: fire_wuff	Date: January 2nd, 2008 04:08 am (UTC)		(Link)

not too impressed about the whole filtering thing... can see it being a colossal waste of money and time. not to mention there are privacy issues when it comes to an opt out system.

BRETT

	From: hasimir	Date: January 2nd, 2008 08:56 am (UTC)		(Link)

Well it was certainly a complete waste of time, effort and money back when I first started working on this issue (and protesting against it) nine years ago.