Greens want internet filtering abandoned

[HIGHERBEAM]

Gillard should halt ISP filtering plan: Greens Fran Foo From: Australian IT July 08, 2010 3:41PM 19 commentsIncrease Text SizeDecrease Text SizePrintEmail Share
Add to DiggAdd to del.icio.usAdd to FacebookAdd to KwoffAdd to MyspaceAdd to NewsvineWhat are these?THE Greens have urged Prime Minister Julia Gillard to put the controversial ISP filtering plan on hold or risk affecting Labor's election chances.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said the friendless net filter proposal is one policy that Labor will probably regret taking into the 2010 election.

It hopes Ms Gillard will invest time in an evidence-based approach before jumping the gun on the mandatory internet filtering scheme, approved by her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

"Prime Minister, put the net filter on hold and take the time to review the evidence that it simply won't work," Senator Ludlam said.

"There is still time to work with industry, online advocacy groups, child protection groups and other political parties to adopt a truly evidence based approach."

He urged Ms Gillard to pay heed to inquiries by the government-initiated joint select committee on cyber safety before supporting the scheme.


Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

"Prime Minister Gillard should have taken time to hear the evidence before throwing her support behind the unpopular net filter.

"Why establish a cyber safety committee if you plan on ploughing ahead regardless of the evidence it receives?" Senator Ludlam said.

Under the plan all internet service providers would be forced to block web pages that contain refused classification material on a secret government blacklist.

Ms Gillard is happy with the policy aim of the filtering proposal.

"Clearly you can't walk into a cinema in Australia and see certain things and we shouldn't on the internet be able to access those things either so (Communications Minister) Stephen Conroy is working to get this in the 'right shape'," she told ABC radio yesterday.

Simon Sheikh, national director for activist group GetUp, said Ms Gillard has a "great opportunity" to differentiate herself from Mr Rudd's oft-criticised plan. He hopes she would adopt an opt-in mechanism instead.

"Julia Gillard has a great opportunity to separate herself from the former PM's controversial system by moving to an opt-in model that would allow Australians to decide for themselves how best to protect children online.

"An opt-in system would have the extra benefit of saving taxpayer money which could be redirected into essential front line services like those provided by the Australian Federal Police," Mr Sheikh said.

He said that fundamentally, the internet cannot be likened to other mediums like TV, movies and books.

"The government has said its proposed filter's underlying principle is undisputable -- that the internet should not be treated differently from any other form of communication.

"The logic is flawed -- the internet is a fundamentally different medium.

"When a film is censored, Australians can take to the internet, discover why, and debate the merits of censoring the film. But when the internet is blocked -- how do we keep the government accountable? How do we monitor what information we are allowed to see?" Mr Sheikh asked.

He said the proposed filter will not work. "Not only will the filter be easy for those seeking to share illicit material to circumvent, it will also block legitimate material."

Legislation could be introduced by the end of the year to force all ISPs to filter the RC content list.

Timing for the legislation, which has earned the ire of ISPs, internet freedom advocates and even Labor's own backbencher Kate Lundy, depends on the date for the upcoming federal election and whether Labor wins office.

Another Labor fuckup, is this china or Russia,why do we need this crap so that big brother can tell us what to read and watch

[Dusty Trail]

People who vote green to "shock" Labor should be shot. When ever has a green vote been for the Liberals? Pseudo greenies who tell everybody else to cut down on this and that yet still drive diesel 4x4s and use air conditioning, need to open the other eye and take their fingers out of their ears.

Do NOT vote Green. Voting Green is a vote for the Australian Liars Party. Vote LIBERAL. The only Party that will bring this country that we love so much back into an even keel. The ALP has already spent our grand children's taxes in their hurry to get the dumb and dopey citizens memorized with "free" cash!

Put Australia back in Safe Hands. I'm a good mind to donate some serious cash to the cause. Australia and Australians certainly can NOT go on under a spend-athon Labor Government. I care less about Gillard as first female. She is already being manipulated by the Unions. Watch Simon Creen's expression. He's seen it all before. Ha ha ha.