Australian ISP filtering policy is not evidence-based

http://whirlpool.net.au/news/?id=1855

by bootload • 16 years ago

26 6 16 years ago

whirlpool.net.au

pgr• 16 years ago

A well written article.

From my understanding, it is largely Senator Conroy who is trying push this through (for reasons I cannot fathom). It has been noted that if the current Australian government were to be replaced by the opposition, the Minister for Communications would have to be replaced. Helen Coonan (the past Liberal Senator responsible for it) was also in charge of implementing a filtering scheme - http://www.netalert.gov.au/ (The state of that link will inform you how successful that was.)

I'm uncertain whether replacing Conroy would curb internet filtering in Australia, or merely change it's focus once more.

ben_h• 16 years ago

Speculation, but I think it makes sense:

http://blog.acooper.org/2009/12/speculation-the-real-villain...

tl;dr: Labor are using the filter as a political means to an end, to court the conservative Christian senator Steve Fielding's vote on the ETS (Fielding is more or less a climate change sceptic). Fielding, along with independent Nick Xenophon, hold disproportinate power in the Senate.

anamax• 16 years ago

> Fielding, along with independent Nick Xenophon, hold disproportinate power in the Senate.

Isn't this (parties with a couple of representatives holding the balance of power) a consequence of proportional representation?

I mention PR because it is often touted as a solution to US problems.

antipaganda• 16 years ago

Of course it's not evidence-based!

God needs no evidence to know that you're a filthy pervert. He merely smites thee with his ability to withhold 0.1 percent of online pornography!

ErrantX• 16 years ago

Very reasoned discussion of the issues.

However, there's no evidence that any inadvertent access is taking place

There is; it just doesn't get reported because no one realises it. It might even be on your "FavouritPornSite.com" of choice. That's the problem - how DO they filter that... (answer, they can't)

zmmmmm• 16 years ago

This is the clearest and most reasonable discussion of the issues that I have seen.

I fear it won't make any difference what anybody says: Conroy is wedded to this policy by a secret deal with independents in the senate and he'll see it through no matter what. Besides, every poll done of the public returns support of ~80%. We, the technically literate folks in Australia, have failed to educate our fellow citizens to understand how useless, counterproductive and dangerous this filter will be. The conservatives won't block it, they love the idea of control over the internet. They can't wait to get in power and start pulling the levers themselves.

It's been a long time since I felt so depressed about my native country.

Australian ISP filtering policy is not evidence-based

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