Australia bows to complaints, delays 'Net filter for a year

[Dave76]

The Australian government has backed off its plan to impose a nationwide Internet content filter that would go far beyond child sex abuse and cover all material that is "refused classification" by Australian censors. The national filter will now be delayed for at least a year while Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy oversees a major consultation on transparency and accountability measures for the system.

What caused the climbdown? Complaints. Everyone from Google to Electronic Frontiers Australia to the Australian Christian Lobby had told the government that, for such a system to work, the secret blacklist had to earn public trust.

"The public must be assured that the processes adopted do not lead to outcomes that undermine the entire policy, such as inadvertently placing innocuous material on the RC Content List," said the Christian Lobby.

Conroy has finally bowed to the pressure. "The public needs to have confidence that the URLs on the list, and the process by which they get there, is independent, rigorous, free from interference or influence and enables content and site owners access to appropriate review mechanisms," he said today in a statement.

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[electrotune1200]

Can't ruffle too many feathers in an election year.

 

[smarteyeball]

Conroy has finally bowed to the pressure.

Personally, I'd be happier if Conroy just bowed out and took this idea with him.

In reality though, 'this issue is currently to contentious this close to election time'.

Come back later once we've been re-elected and by then, make sure that turd is polished. Roll it in glitter if you have to... otherwise Steve, we'll give it to someone who can.

 

[kodi]

They must have finally listened to everyone telling them that the way they want to do it wont work and have put it in the too hard just before an election basket.

 

[echrada]

When will governments learn that censorship in any form does not work.

 

[A Guy]

Aussie Minister Reaffirms Plans for Mandatory Net Filter

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says recent change in Prime Minister will have little effect on mandatory net filtering proposal, and criticizes those proposing an opt in amendment with the odd reply that “I’m not into opting in to child porn.”

Despite the recent change in Prime Minister, Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the govt is still determined to move forward with plans for a mandatory Internet filtering scheme.

Source

A Guy