Xenophon speaks out against Internet content filtering
- 27 February, 2009 13:11
- Comments 8
Independent South Australian senator, Nick Xenophon, has spoken out against the Government’s Internet content filtering plan saying “there are better ways to deal with the problem”.
Xenophon told ARN he had serious concerns about the ability of the Government’s proposed filter – currently in trial by six ISPs – to block harmful content.
“My concern has always been about online gambling, but it is not access to the content that causes harm, it is the access to your credit card details,” he said.
“From what I have seen so far, I have some serious concerns that it is not going to stop what the Government is hoping. It won’t stop peer-to-peer pedophile networks. There is a strong argument the money could be better spent in tracking down those. I also think parents should supervise computers.”
The national clean feed Internet scheme, part of the government's $128 million Plan for Cyber Safety, will impose national content filtering for all Internet connections and will block Web pages detailed in a blacklist operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The senator was unwilling to say whether or not he would support content filtering if the Government’s trial produced workable results but said he would be monitoring the outcome.
“I think the Government’s intentions are good but I don’t think it will achieve what it was meant to achieve.
“The other broader issue is it could make the Internet unusable for the great majority of Australians who use it responsibly. Do you punish everyone for the actions of a few when you could target those few in a much better way?”
The ISPs involved in the first phase of the live pilot are: Primus Telecommunications, Tech 2U, Webshield, OMNIconnect, Netforce and Highway 1, who have thrown their support behind the capabilities of filtering technology. The pilot will involve six weeks of testing once filtering equipment has been installed.
Enex Testlab has been contracted to run the pilot, but no specific starting dates have been announced.
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy, has previously said the government is aware of technical concerns about ISP filtering, and will look at the efficiency and effectiveness of a range of technical solutions, as well as other issues such as ease of circumvention, impact on Internet speeds and user experience.
Conroy’s shadow, Senator Nick Minchin, has also criticised the trials.
The government's Internet content filtering scheme has split opinions with opponents hitting the streets in a series of protests and supporters calling for the public not to pre-judge the capabilities of the content filters until results are available from the trials.
Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.
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Comments
Anonymous
Xenophon
What's the BET that he does a deal on gambling with the government and ends up doing a back flip on this too. He already sold the country out on the stimulus package only to have the Victorian government come in and wreck his so called deal on water for the Murray. Don't let Conroy censor the internet.
Anonymous
Please dont let the filter go through! we want good internet not dead internet
Anonymous
Govt's intentions
The ALP and Conroy are just trying to appease Christian fundamentalist voters and of course Steve Fielding, like they used to pander to Senator Brian Harradine to pass legislation. So they have wasted money to draw this thing out despite the well-documented impracticalities. Of course they'd like to monitor everyone, smear or silence opposition and create diversions to distract from their bungled policies. Filter or no, expect more doublespeak.
Jingles
Smells like BS
I think it's interesting that they chose ISPs that support the filtering proposal (who already offer a similar service/product) and have excluded ISPs who applied but publicly oppose the filter. Where is the balance? It all smells like BS to me.
Anonymous
We will have the great firewall of Australia to match the great firewall of China!
Anonymous
The domino theory strikes again!
Anonymous
Agreed. And, as mentioned in the article, the initiate will not stop P2P paedophile networks. What is the point?
Anonymous
How to piss off a net filter advocate (this has now been done):
1. Realise the net filter was created to get support from christian ministers like Steve Fielding.
2. Request an anti-abortion website (that christians would support) to be blacklisted with the ACMA.
3. Have said website blacklisted by ACMA, post the result on Whirlpool for all to see.
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