12 Dec 08 The net under threat: the netnanny state
The Australian government is planning to introduce internet filtering at the ISP level. This will make the internet up to 87% slower, more expensive, and will accidentally block up to one in 12 legitimate sites, while missing the vast majority of inappropriate content. Anyone who has worked in a government department behind an overly aggressive firewall will know what this is like: incredibly frustrating, inefficient and largely unworkable.
The government will allow users the opportunity to ‘opt out’ of the scheme, although they obviously won’t have the option to opt out of the slow connections and increased cost. The average user has no desire to view offensive material on the net, but then, definitions of what constitutes offensive material varies widely. (e.g. the recent Bill Henson scandal/fiasco). This draconian proposal by the government is an insult to the average user’s intelligence.
The government obviously thinks people are incapable of making responsible decisions for themselves. If they did they might offer users the opportunity to opt in to such a scheme, rather than making them opt out. This is a flagrant and ill conceived attack on civil liberties and personal freedom.
Australian internet connections may soon be like Ned Flander’s cable TV: 99 channels and all blocked except the weather… okely dokely? NO!
Sign the getup.org petition to Communications Minister Senator Conroy, against “draconian government restrictions on the internet that will hold back the digital economy and miss the vast majority of unwanted content.”
Tags: Bill Henson scandal, government cencorship of the internet, internet filtering, ISP filtering, offensive material
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So they’re going to attempt to filter out undesirable sites at the ISP level? Like big companies do so that their employees can’t go on certain sites … or like China does? Sounds like to much interference in peoples personal affairs, plus as you said filters don’t always work so they’ll probably be blocking some useful sites that people want to visit. I guess the increased ISP costs is to cover the filtering?
This will be bad enough for the everyday internet user but I’m sure it will really hurt people who make their living on the internet!
BTW thanks for your visit, following on twitter and I’ve added your site as a technorati fav too.
Tricia’s last blog post..Flowers on a dreary day
Why is that government can’t allow us to think for ourselves? I really hate how any government insinuate we can’t make our own decisions about anything. Even here in the states, they cut out trans fat because it made us fat or so they say. So far there hasn’t been word to regulate the web here but one things is certain I would be against it 100% since it would violate the 1st admendment of the constitution.
jenn’s last blog post..The Fallen Knight
Governments assume that people can’t be trusted to think for themselves and subsequently try to exercise too much control. A far better approach would be helping to educate to use net resources more wisely. That way, kids could be protected and consenting adults could continue to enjoy freedom. It could happen there too; it wouldn’t be the first time the constitution has been violated.
normally i do not take the time to make posts but nice site you have here!
Love your new blog. I agree with any netnanny opponents.
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