The Labor Party (specifically Senator Conroy) are proposing to place an internet filter, or clean feed, at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level. Nominally, this is to block all "illegal and inappropriate" sites so our children are protected from things such as porn and the like.

This topic is to discuss the fact that the term "inappropriate" has not been revealed (and that it is unlikely to be stated in the future). The list of over 10,000 sites (as it currently stands) that are to be blocked will not be accessible from the government.

This thread is about how the filter will include legal sites about anorexia, euthanasia and drug use. Passing the legislation will require the support of Senator Xenophon who has stated that he will back it only if it blocks gambling sites.

The proposal is a blatant starting point to manipulate the information coming to Australian citizens. With no mandate about what is fodder for the blacklist, it is entirely possible (and highly probable) that more and more restrictions will be placed on the filter. Political dissent? Shut it down. Religious discussion not in line with fundamental Christian groups (who are the most vocal supporters of this proposal)? Block it. Media criticism of the incumbent government? Block it.

Senator Conroy's office has even tried suppressing one critic by putting pressure on his employer to sack him.

As citizens, we will have no idea what is being blocked. We will have no recourse to unblock sites if we find out what it is behind the filter.

The government is pushing for this policy despite all the ISPs decrying it. The IT industry in general have panned the idea on a technical level. It seems that nobody wants this filter except for Labor and a few vocal minority groups.

I don't normally campaign political stuff, but this one is so important that I MUST make a stand. I'm not associated with any of the below groups, but to find out more and to have some input try the below sites; they provide plenty of links and discussions about the proposal:
http://nocleanfeed.com/
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?tag=cleanfeed



How would it affect the users of OzLiberty? With political campaigns constantly banging on about speeding being pretty much the sole reason anyone ever dies on a road, there's the potential that this site may be deemed "inappropriate" as it may be viewed as encouraging dangerous driving habits. Hence, it stands the chance that it will be blocked.

Does anyone go to comedy sites? Read any d!ck jokes there? We can't have the kids seeing that sort of thing! It's highly likely that a block will be put in place.

Work for a small business (or own one)? Does it have a web site hosted on a server that hosts some "inappropriate" material? You stand a good chance that you're site will be blocked too meaning you'll lose out on business. No business = no money = no employees. Given the speed that the beauracracy works, don't expect rapid changes to the filter when you notify them that you can't afford to eat because of the blocks.

You like pr0n? That's gone. Legal or not, it's blocked.

Discussion complaining about the filter? Block it. Discussing how to bypass the filter will be illegal. Blocks will, and prosecutions may, ensue.

There is no restrictions to what goes on the list. It's currently more restricitve than the filters in Iran. We cannot let this happen. To see what you can do about this, go to the No Clean Feed site.



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