ISP filtering gets the green light

[Tassia]

http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/ ... s/2009/115

The Government will introduce legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act to require all ISPs to block RC-rated material hosted on overseas servers.

RC-rated material includes child sex abuse content, bestiality, sexual violence including rape, and the detailed instruction of crime or drug use. Under the National Classification Scheme and related enforcement legislation it is already illegal to distribute, sell or make available for hire RC-rated films, computer games and publications.

This material is currently subject to take-down notices by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) if it is hosted online in Australia. However, ACMA is unable to directly regulate content hosted overseas. This action is an additional measure to the existing take-down regime for Australia-hosted content.

“ISP filtering reduces the risk of Australians being inadvertently exposed to RC-rated material when they are online,” Senator Conroy said.

“The report into the pilot trial of ISP-level filtering demonstrates that blocking RC-rated material can be done with 100% accuracy and negligible impact on internet speed,” Senator Conroy said.

The RC Content list will be compiled through a public complaints mechanism.

The Government will also add the specific internet addresses (URLs) of known child abuse material through sharing lists with highly regarded international agencies after an assessment of the rigour and accountability of classification processes used by these agencies.

The Minister for Home Affairs yesterday announced a public consultation process into whether there should be an R18+ classification category for computer games. Until this process is complete, online computer games will be excluded from mandatory filtering of RC content.

The Government expects to introduce legislation during the Autumn 2010 parliamentary sittings. There will be a twelve months process of implementation after the passage of the legislation.

They say "negligble" impact, but does anyone know if they're only blocking port 80/443 and how will this blocking effect latency in gaming.

[Cartollomew]

They say "negligble" impact, but does anyone know if they're only blocking port 80/443 and how will this blocking effect latency in gaming.

We don't know for sure, but at present it's understood to just be a straight up blacklist - so they'll block traffic through ports 80/443 based on the domain name and possibly IP.

Give my business a little time and we'll make sure we have tunneling services through to various countries.

/sigh @ the consistency of a government who believes it's time to discuss how adults deserve to make their own choices about content in video games but not about content on the internet.

[Kayleb]

/sigh @ the consistency of a government who believes it's time to discuss how adults deserve to make their own choices about content in video games but not about content on the internet.

Douchebags, the lot of 'em! It's so true Cart.
I tried to explain to someone who actually voted for Atkinson, the impact of this on children and the need ro R18 rating. Blank looks all round.

On the other hand, restricting the movement of RC-rated material should be a high priority. Regaurdless of people taste in extra activities, the harm and abuse of people is .... just bad. By restricting the movement and distribution of such material, in my opinion, will help the cause overall. Naturally there will be people throughout the world who will do such acts, but by limiting funding and content available will surely have an impact.

Initially when they were introducing this filtering I assumed it was for good of all the little Johnies who might stumble across a pr0no or 50.

[Tassia]

Initially when they were introducing this filtering I assumed it was for good of all the little Johnies who might stumble across a pr0no or 50.

As a parent, that's my responsibilty, not the government's.

[Cartollomew]

On the other hand, restricting the movement of RC-rated material should be a high priority. Regaurdless of people taste in extra activities, the harm and abuse of people is .... just bad. By restricting the movement and distribution of such material, in my opinion, will help the cause overall. Naturally there will be people throughout the world who will do such acts, but by limiting funding and content available will surely have an impact.

Nah, not really the case.

"RC" material isn't illegal - it's not been rated as legal to sell or distribute in Australia - and it's certainly not automatically abusive material.

Even worse, it's been stated that the filter is to block "potentially RC material" - in other words, the Classification Board can't possibly assign a ratings decision to all the sites that may get reported - so ACMA, who aren't qualified or empowered to make ratings decisions, will squint a bit and determine (somehow) whether or not something might have been refused classification by the board.

And then ban it.

This kind of ad-hoc censorship of material which is legal to own and view in almost all Aussie states is not positive no matter how you spin it.

The filter restricts people who have limited technical knowledge - for now. Once it's brought it, necessity determines that there will be simple one click applications giving people access to another country's unfiltered net via an encrypted tunnel.

So what does this filter give us? A false sense of security and smugness and an excuse not to investigate the source of child abuse.

Initially when they were introducing this filtering I assumed it was for good of all the little Johnies who might stumble across a pr0no or 50.

This is something people, particularly of generation X and older, need to understand - the internet isn't a passive medium like TV or Radio - you don't sit there and get bombarded with content. You seek out the content you want.

My mother doesn't accidentally look at porn*. Any little Johnnie who tells you he was accidentally exposed to porn, went looking for it on purpose.

And I can tell you now, it's gonna be kids who are the first ones to circumvent this filter when it comes in - kids with parents who are literally unaware they need to be supervising their children's net access.

*For the record, I have no idea if my mother chooses to deliberately look at porn.

[Philondra]

That brings up an interesting Question -- what is generation X?

Depending on some definitions (those born from 1961 - 1981), I fall under generation X. (By that definition, so does my mother o.O)
Some people put me in generation Y (1974-1989) or the MTW generation (1980s).
I am definitely not a millenial (1982-2000).

What most scares me is that some of our raiders were born in the 1990s.

[Cartollomew]

Additional:
Children's groups don't want the filter:
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/s ... 339,00.htm

The statement was signed by the Australian Library and Information Association, Civil Liberties Australia, UTS University Librarian Alex Byrne, GetUp!, Liberty Victoria, the National Association for the Visual Arts, the National Children's & Youth Law Centre, the NSW and Queensland councils for Civil Liberties and Save the Children.

That brings up an interesting Question -- what is generation X?

It's whatever the author using it wants, basically. In my case, I'm satisfied that you aren't a millenial and that if you are from GenY, you're an older one.

Obviously it's a generalisation either way, so it doesn't really matter.

[midi]

As a parent, that's my responsibilty, not the government's.

This.

Any little Johnnie who tells you he was accidentally exposed to porn, went looking for it on purpose.

That's not strictly true though. I remember bumping into all sorts of unwanted content just via google. As you learn, you figure out what's dodgy and what isn't and you minimise it a great deal, but there are deceptive websites out there that the untrained will bump into.

No doubt Kayli and Allan will bump into porn and god knows what else even if I set up all sorts of filters and I won't tape them to the ceiling unless I see a trend.

[Lellybaby]

I'm Generation F

Generation FABULOUS!

edit: Just to stay on Topic.... I was first exposed to Porn looking at a Diablo 2 fan Site.

I blame Blizz for the sick mind I have now.

[midi]

I just blame Selten... he's got a dirty mind.

Also, RIP Aerith /cry

[Dropdeadqt]

My first exposure to "pron" was stealing a black and white book of famous celebs naked from a newsagent...

[midi]

The schools misfit had a magazine stash hidden in the bushland (lol) behind his house... no the misfit wasn't me although I came close.

[Philondra]

OK, normally this would go in the webcomic thread, but holy topical humor!

http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/u ... ctopus.jpg