The Great Firewall of Australia

The Great Firewall of Australia
On today’s show we examine the federal government’s plan to implement nation-wide mandatory internet censorship. The “cleanfeed” system will be mandatory on all ISPs and there will be no opt out. The government will have sole discretion to decide for us what is “inappropriate” web content. Related material and links: Dale Clapperton on Sunrise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xThNk0Vd4ws There are many problematic questions [...]

On today’s show we examine the federal government’s plan to implement nation-wide mandatory internet censorship.

The “cleanfeed” system will be mandatory on all ISPs and there will be no opt out. The government will have sole discretion to decide for us what is “inappropriate” web content.

Related material and links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xThNk0Vd4ws

There are many problematic questions associated with the government’s planned system, none of which have been properly addressed. Here are just a few:

• What is the criteria by which the government will decide if a site is banned?
• Will owners of banned sites have a right of review, if so what will the procedure be?
• Will the banned material be subject to FOI requests?
• Will the ban apply to web URLs or (potentially shared) IP addresses?
• How will the general public know that a given site has been banned?
• Will the government be banning sites based on the Sedition Act?
• Will the government be banning music file sharing portals like bittorrent?

These are just a few of the many pressing questions associated with internet filtering.

• No opt-out of filtered Internet
• Australia to implement mandatory internet censorship
• Australian web filter to block 10,000 internet sites

Here are some Australian websites to check out:

• www.nocleanfeed.com
• http://nocensorship.info
• www.efa.org.au
• www.wearechange.org.au
• libertus.net/censor/ispfiltering-au-govplan.html
• http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=967413&p=-1#bottom

Contact Senator Conroy

Contacting the Minister will let him know that his constituents, the Australian public, are not on board with his impractical plan.
Call the Minister.

There’s nothing like a personal phone call to get the message across. Call the minister’s office on (03) 9650 1188 and let them know your objections.
Write to the Minister.

A personalised letter to the Minister sends a powerful message: We don’t like the policy, and we care. Letters can be sent to the Ministerial office:

Senator Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Level 4, 4 Treasury Place
Melbourne Vic 3002

If you’re not sure what to say, you might wish to use the following as a template:

Dear Minister,

As an Australian and an internet user, I have serious concerns about your mandatory Internet filtering initiative.
Given the importance your Government has attached to modernising Australia’s broadband network, pursuing a policy that can only slow down and increase the costs of home internet access seems misguided at best.

Australian households are diverse, and most do not have young children, so mandating a one-size-fits-all clean feed approach will not serve the public well. I don’t think it is the Government’s role to decide what’s appropriate for me or my children, and neither do most Australians.

Given the amount of Internet content available, the Government will never be able to classify it all and filters will always result in an unacceptable level of over-blocking. I feel that the time and money could be spent in better ways both to protect children and improve Australia’s digital infrastructure. Australian parents need better education about the risks their children face online. Trying to rid the Internet of adult content is futile, and can only distract from that mission.

Sincerely,
Internet User
City, State

Email the Minister

Although not as effective as a letter or call, every bit helps. Email Senator Conroy at: minister (at) dbcde.gov.au.

Contact your local representative

Your local Memeber of Parliament is your representative and wants to hear about your concerns. Let your member know that you are unhappy with this policy.

Not sure who to contact? Find your local member’s contact information.

Contact your ISP

Your Internet Service Provider is probably just as worried about this policy as you are, but letting them know your concerns will help in their own efforts.

Not sure how to contact your ISP? This list may help.

Sign a Petiton

• WeAreChange Petition
• EFA Petition

Protests are planned in several states, details are as follows:

Melbourne:
13th of December
12pm-5pm
State Library
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46838735931

Brisbane:
13th of December
11am-3pm
Brisbane Square
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=42526399601

Sydney:
13th of December
11am-4pm
Town Hall
Check www.nocensorship.info forums for Sydney updates

Adelaide:
13th of December
12pm - 4pm
Parliament
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39343300875

Hobart:
13th of December
11am - 1.
30pm
Parliament Lawns
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39329861995

Source: www.truthnews.com.au

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