Telstra and Optus to Censor Internet; Starting Next Month

[fantanoice]

MOST Australian internet users will have their web access censored next month after the country's two largest internet providers agreed to voluntarily block more than 500 websites from view.

Telstra and Optus confirmed they would block access to a list of child abuse websites provided by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and more compiled by unnamed international organisations from mid-year.

But internet experts have warned that the scheme is merely a "feel-good policy" that will not stop criminals from accessing obscene material online and could block websites unfairly.

Source: News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/technology/internet-filter/telstra-optus-to-begin-censoring-web-next-month/story-fn5j66db-1226079954138#ixzz1Q0VDUNvO)

This country is dead to me.

[Kozahk]

Block 500 porn related websites out of a total of how many gazillion websites, I really don't think that this is going to affect me; nor am I such a paranoid bastard that I believe that Telstra and Optus are going to become the Great Firewall of Australia. And before I get the whole, 'this is how it begins crap' lets consider this from a buisness perspective. If the two providers were to become evil overlords of the Internet that everyone is shitting themselves over, another internet service provider will just come along and offer unrestricted internet, flourish and utterly devastate these two. The experts are right in this case that it is merely a 'feel good' scheme, albeit not a very good one.

[fantanoice]

nor am I such a paranoid bastard that I believe that Telstra and Optus are going to become the Great Firewall of Australia.
I doubt it will too, though I do feel it is a matter of time before we end up with it. The main reason we don't have one now is because the Greens have a seat in the Lower House.

If the two providers were to become evil overlords of the Internet that everyone is shitting themselves over, another internet service provider will just come along and offer unrestricted internet, flourish and utterly devastate these two. The experts are right in this case that it is merely a 'feel good' scheme, albeit not a very good one.
Here's hoping. I would love to see Telstra get the same treatment that they give the general public. Even so, I do actually like my Optus connection, but this is just ridiculous.

I mean, there is no justification for this. No pros except for "less child porn" (which can be better resolved better through other means) and a truckload of flaws.


This, on the back of the Victorian Government implementing fines for swearing in public (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/31/3231331.htm) and getting rid of the Anti-Discrimination Workplace Laws (http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/vic-govt-casts-rules-aside-for-revote-20110601-1ffsh.html) just makes Canada sound better and better. *Sigh*

[Kozahk]

I mean, there is no justification for this. No pros except for "less child porn" (which can be better resolved better through other means) and a truckload of flaws.
Such as?

[fantanoice]

Such as?
Reporting the website and getting it shut down. Blocking the site doesn't help the problem at all, especially when it can be bypassed with close to no effort. On the other hand, getting it shut down and the culprits caught has a much bigger effect. any resources going towards this is better in the hands of the law enforcers.

Heck, the people involved with these things know that the police have tools available to catch them if they distribute on public areas like websites. That's why they do it privately (thankfully these are being cracked down now as well) and why this whole thing is a terrible idea.

http://www.weakstream.us/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/cyber-police.jpg

And the worst part is that various members of the public will think it is the best thing since sex because "it fights child pornography".

[Kozahk]

Was wondering if you would come to the same conclusion. I agree in that it is ultimately hopeless to stop without killing the source as well, though if they have actually found sites out there that deals in that kinda stuff I wouldn't block them, but rather find them and arrest/execute/whatever punishment everyone deems appropriate for a pedo. It is the only way to kill the problem, this just delays it.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I don't really care. At all. Doesn't cause any problems and doesn't create any. You'll also note that this is not government funded.

Certainly there are better things to stop such problems, but that's like saying we should allow the importation of cocaine and instead only go after the organisations importing it. Yeah, I'm exaggerating a tonne, I know, so don't bother pointing it out.