In Internet Terms, Australia Turns Into China

Total information awareness might be coming to Australia, with draconian Internet filtering mandated by the government. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has resorted to repeated lies about the scope of the bill, a sure sign he knows how intemperate and beyond-the-pale it really is.

Much of the opposition to Senator Conroy's plan revolves around the fact that, unlike his earlier promises, he now wants to make the filtering mandatory for all Australians — spurred on by support from vocal minorities such as the Australian Family Association and the Australian Christian Lobby.

Senator Nick Xenophon and Family First Senator Steve Fielding, both of whom the Government needs to pass legislation, have already said they want the mandatory filters broadened to include the blocking of hard-core pornography and online gambling sites.

Grilled by a Senate Estimates committee in October, Senator Conroy said Britain, Sweden, Canada and New Zealand had all implemented similar filtering systems. However, in all cases, participation by ISPs was optional and the filtering was limited in scope to predominantly child pornography. "It is happening in two other countries — China and Saudi Arabia, that's who he's lined himself up with," said [opposing expert Michael] Malone.

[thanks, Greg!]

Comments

[hermesten]

Funny, or maybe not, but I was corresponding with a photographer in Australia who assured me that they didn't have a Christian problem. I guess she knows better now.