Optus: We want in on Internet filtering trial
- 27 March, 2009 16:28
- Comments 18
Despite criticism the big ISPs have shunned the Federal Government's Internet filter trial, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has declared Optus has jumped on-board.
Appearing on the ABC's live broadcast of Q&A on Thursday night, Conroy rebutted accusations the top three ISPs had rejected the trial.
“Optus, the second-largest ISP in the country, has said that it will participate,” Conroy said on the program. He also highlighted the fact Primus Communications, the nation’s fourth-largest ISP, is a participant.
While there is currently no contractual agreement between Optus and the government, Optus director of government affairs, Maha Krishnapillai, has confirmed the telco is in talks with the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE).
“We are still in discussions [with the DBCDE] about how we can be involved in the trial,” he said. “But we have yet to finalise the contract.”
Despite the withdrawal of iiNet and various scandals involving the content filter scheme (including the Wikileaks publication of the purported ACMA block list), Optus remains unfazed.
“Optus is absolutely committed to working with any enforcement, police or other agencies to stop the movement of illegal content,” said Krishnapillai. “We have a very strong view that we need to take as many opportunities as we can to prevent illegal material.
“We certainly don’t want to be the police force ourselves, but we are keen to work with the Government and the right agencies to stop criminal activity.”
Buddecomm telco analyst and director, Paul Budde, said Optus’ participation in the Internet filter trial was not an issue as long as the telco offered it to customers on a voluntary basis.
“If Optus does go ahead with the filter on an involuntary basis, and the company doesn’t clarify to customers exactly what they are filtering, they will be, in my opinion, in breach of the freedom of information,” he said. “The problem starts when filtering technology is mixed in with government policies, then it suddenly becomes compulsory and you actually don’t know what actually going to be filtered.
“That is where the government is going in the wrong direction.”
Optus refused to comment on whether the company will run the trial on an opt in/opt out basis.
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Comments
Anonymous
Optus: We want in on Internet filtering trial
The whole trial process is a complete and utter farce that is designed to deliver a pre specified verdict which is that internet filtering is technically feasible. If Rudd, Conroy and the rest of the dimwits behind the proposal to CENSOR the internet were serious about a thorough, open and transparent trial then as iiNet pointed out this would have been a full blind trial. Oh and as far as I'm aware the scope of what Optus plan to trial is very limited compared to what Rudd, Conroy and dimwits plan to implement.
Anonymous
Optus?
Of course they want in. When's that NBN announcement due?
Ed
Looks like I'll be churning from Optus soon. I'm disappointed with them for wanting to be part of the trial. They should pull out, the whole thing is a farce.
Anonymous
Maybe participating in this trial will help Optus stop the onslaught of junk email and phishing scams directed at Optus users. They sure as hell can't do anything about it at the moment it seems.
Anonymous
Optus in bed with Conroy
It seemed that Optus is going to be in bed with the Government - now that Telstra's relationship with the Gov. had soured.
Optus seemed opportunist - well, I'll be taking this opportunity to churn away from them, including mobiles from families and will convince friends as well!
This whole filter thing is a farce....democratic, bah!
Kevin Cobley
Nobody marched on Hitler when he censored the news.
The "filter" is just the first step, then follows "ministerial request" bans (to ban sites that ministers don't like), then follows "members bans" to ban sites that parliamentary members don't like , then follows bans requested by "business mafia" associates of government members.
Like Hitler a stop needs to be put to this!
Anonymous
Before you folks chuck a hissy fit...
Have a think about the overall context of the article!
(1) Conroy is under pressure from the folks who don't want this filter at all. (That's the majority of us as well as ISPs...Not to mention some politicians!). He is desperate for support. That's why he made this declaration!
(2) Read CAREFULLY what Optus has said: "We are still in discussions [with the DBCDE] about how we can be involved in the trial, but we have yet to finalise the contract."
...So they are only TALKING about it. There's NOTHING wrong with talking, is there? Its the end result from that talk which matters the most, and the consequent actions! They haven't even said it was opt-in or opt-out! And some of you are already judging them?!
(3) Journalists tend to sensationalise a headline to grab your attention with key words. In this case, its "We want in". Don't blindly fall for it with emotion. See it from the whole picture.
(4) There's nothing wrong with filtering IF its on a volunteer basis. As in opt-in or "its there as an option for those who are concerned for their kids". This is the most appropriate way to implement this.
...And lastly.
(5) If you are an Optus subscriber and you are not happy, express your concern and cancel your contract with them. Make sure you specifically say why you are canceling. (They generally record this for feedback and assessment to improve their services).
The fight of content filtering still rages on, it ain't over until its over.
Anonymous
Silly optus
Do optus understand that the majority of people don't want this and therefore they are aligning themselves against the majority!
Do people really think it will stay as an opt in?
The government has shown clearly that it will press ahead with a filter against the will of the majority and using trumped up facts that don't hold up under analysis.
Once it's in, it will quickly shift from and opt in basis to a compulsary system and trumpted up stats and reports will be used as the justification.
Just as the world didn't learn from the 30's collapse because they lived beyond their means and we are seeing a repeat, so people have learnt nothing from history and hitler and how tyrants rise to power and enslave a nation.
*sigh*
Anonymous
Does this mean we wont be able to watch Rudd's lurid antics in US strip clubs on the net? I certainly hope so.
Max
Optus: We want in on Internet filtering trial
I am not sure which silly comment and regurgitated, monotonous whirlpool dogma to respond to first, and they all appear to be from the same "anonymous"... lol
Initially it was claimed that no "real" ISPs are taking part, now that Optus is taking part, they are scorned... Abusing people because they do not agree with you is a sign that you have lost already. Anyone comparing Australia's politicians and our circumstances to Hitler and Nazi Germany has accurately set the level of their maturity and their grip of reality just wher it belongs: rock-bottom & devoid. There is ZERO proof that the majority of Australians are against the proposed filter, certainly though the majority of whirlpol and stacked tv show audiences. The majority of blog sites where
many anti-filtering comments are made are also the result of a smaller group making many entries, and then often reporting their spamming on whirlpool etc. The rest of the personal insults that are so typical of so many of the antifilter campaigners again summarise their value: "Have no substance...Insult instead!!!"
Anonymous
If Optus implements this without an opt-in, then I will move to someone else. Other Optus customers should also make it clear to Optus they will do the same. I doubt that Optus would then introduce it in any way except opt-in
Anonymous
posting anonymously might get filtered too
Perhaps it hasn't occurred to you, but the right to post comments such as yours may be be lost if we again find ourselves with a bunch of ideological gits like the last lot ... or if one day the current government decides that a site like this is not in the public OR national interest..
..you might want to consider: in Nazi Germany the dogma of THAT time was very effective at influencing Germans to believe that the preservation of THEIR rights was best achieved by depriving others of theirs...
This filter fails the test of a free society run by adults for adults and those in their care..
Jonnara
just let them do it
I am so over this already, no matter how much the IT sector tells these dimwits this is stupid they are not going to listen.
So i say let them do it, once its too late and they realize what "rights" they have lost. I'll be happily using my VPN with a care factor "zero" for these people who wanted the filter.
Anonymous
just another joker sucking up to the king...
well with the NBN on the cusp, just contemplate the pressure Conroy is putting on Optus to play compliantly in their sandpit.. as the relationship with Telstra is slipping out the door , Optus sees itself as the new stooge to do the government's bidding.. "Just sign here.. $4.7bn is all yours if you roll over and play by our rules" .. its pretty transparent really. A real shame the govt can get away with bully-boy behaviour thats clearly idealogically based, demonstrably unpopular, against freedom of thought, ... I think we need a first amendment!
Infortunately we dont have decent freedom of thought & speech laws here..
Anonymous
Does it even really work ?
How does this stop child pornography? The people who dwell in this area dont actually set themselves up on URL's or websites. You think they dont know this is illegal?
It's done via newgroups, emails, peer to peer networks etc. All of this will still be possibe with an internet filter in place
In my 10+ years of interet surfing and i've never suddenly or accidentally stubled on a child pornography site.
So for me I cant see what this will actually bring to the table.
Finally ... I'm sure if someone setups a ban website and finds out that they have blacklisted ... they will just create another website ... and other etc. To the government ... if you really wanted to stop this I would suggest you actually get up of you tax paid salaries and catch the criminal. Woah ... now maybe there's an idea???
Peter S
China internet style is coming to Australia !!
Oh I see your problem anonymous ... so you actually think this is being done to stop child pornography. Hahaha I cant believe you fell for that excuse!
What they really want is control of what you can see on the internet. China internet style is coming to Australia !!
Anonymous
Paranoia is fun... to a point.
Then it becomes something less than entertaining.
VPNs? Give it a break...
Just let you do what?
"Sat, 28/03/2009 - 21:02 — Anonymous
just let them do it
I am so over this already, no matter how much the IT sector tells these dimwits this is stupid they are not going to listen.
So i say let them do it, once its too late and they realize what "rights" they have lost. I'll be happily using my VPN with a care factor "zero" for these people who wanted the filter."
Well mate, if that is what you need to get at your beloved CP (Chrome Products???), then you just go and do that... And excuse me while I ROFLOL at your prediction that you will slow down your internet access immensely by using a VPN for general internet access. ho ho ho... First a big whinge from the "performance fighters" about slowing speeds, then claim to use VPNs... lol... Your connection will grind to a halt half the time and be woefully slow the rest. I expect that you have ZERO technical knowledge of how the internet works...
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