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[ #31 ] Dear Australia Permalink

Censorship Added nearly two years ago and last edited nearly two years ago

Dear Australia,

I would like to register my opposition to the mandatory internet content filtering proposal.

I am aware that I will be able to opt-out of the 'kiddy-friendly' stream, but will still be forced to consume the 'legal' one.

While I do not intend on viewing illegal webpages, I am concerned that any internet filtering will be a step back in time for Australia.

Here are my main concerns:

Speed

All traffic must pass through a server that determines whether it is legal or not, and this will affect speed.

False positives

How is the list updated? What measures are in place to deal with the inevitable false positives? What recourse do the public have if websites they own or operate are incorrectly blocked? Is there an independent tribunal or ombudsman who will oversee these matters? And if the incorrect blocking of sites causes a loss of income (due to loss of advertising revenue) will the owner be compensated?

Censorship

How transparent is the URL vetting procedure? If a government puts any filtering in place then it is very easy for them to slowly increase the number of sites blocked, and broaden the reasons they are blocked. For example they may block any websites that speak out against the filtering, then be able to claim that the system is merely exhibiting false positives. What is to stop the government also blocking any sites that speak out against the government itself? Will the public have a list of blocked URLs and a description for why they are blocked?

I understand that the government wants to stop illegal things like paedophilia websites, and I am all for the removal and prosecution of the people that run and view those sites, but this content filtering will not stop them. There are already many sophisticated encryption, VPN and peer-to-peer technologies that bypass URL checking. Mandatory internet filtering will at best be inconveniencing the masses and at worst censoring them. The money for this scheme should instead be used on special task forces to investigate paedophilia syndicates, online fraudsters and scammers etc rather than blanket-filtering all content.

The internet is an invaluable stream of information and innovation. The government owes the public access to this information so that we can grow with the rest of the world.

Censorship is simply wrong. It is a slippery slope from censoring illegal content to fascism - please don't let Australia go down this road.

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