The Government announced this week plans to introduce legislation for mandatory filtering of the internet at Internet Service Provider (ISP level).
This of course brought out all those who want no restrictions to the internet, arguing that the plans will mean we’ll end up living in a place like North Korea and controlled by the Taliban.
The plan is for ISPs to block blacklisted material rated Refused Classification. This is material that is already not allowed in other mediums because it is so graphic. It includes child porn, rape porn and bestiality.
The government will also provide incentives to ISPs to offer optional ISP level filtering of X and R-rated pornography.
The UN Save the Children Fund made the ridiculous claim that it would mean parents would relax about their children’s internet use. Save the Children should be welcoming anything which might lessen the multi-billion dollar trade in children’s bodies.
Any material which depicts sexual violence against women and children or which incites crimes of violence against women and children should not be allowed. Anyone justifying it should not be called a civil libertarian but a sexual assault libertarian.
For some compelling articles in favour of filtering, see:
Clive Hamilton: Web doesn’t belong to net libertarians
Abigail Bray: Googling S*x
Steven Conroy: The truth about net filtering
Let Stephen Conroy know you support the proposed legislation.
Senator Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Level 4, 4 Treasury Place
Melbourne Vic 3002.
