Internet Censorship: It is a big deal!
A quick search on Google News seems to indicate that this issue still doesn't seem to be getting the main stream media coverage it deserves. In fact, it seems to be getting more coverage overseas than it is in Australia's media - including from Chinese news outlets. As you would expect, it's getting some good coverage by bloggers:
- Gizmodo - Australia To Build Great Firewall Down Under [Censorship]
- Amnesia Blog - Australia’s Great Firewall without an opt-out
- Boing Boing - Australia's Great Firewall: just like China, Syria and other "free" countries
- The Technology Liberation Front - Australian ISP-Level Content Filtering Report Released
- Somebody Think of the Children1
- Larvatus Prodeo - New Govt same as the old (may be worse)
- TechCrunch - Australia Joins China In Censoring The Internet
- No Internet Censorship for Australia - ACMA Trial shows filtering unworkable
It's encouraging to see big and - crucially - widely read blogs like Boing Boing, Gizmodo and TechCrunch on that list, but what we really need for the politicians to take notice is main stream news coverage23. The most relevant article I could find in the MSM - after searching for quite a while4 - was ISP filtering gains momentum in Australian IT. Which starts to highlight just some of the pertinent points:
Some industry observers believe internet users, not ISPs, could be forced to subsidise the program, with early estimates pointing to $60 million a year.
... Senator Conroy hailed the Enex trial a success, within the closed-environment test conditions. However, the results were broadly negative. It showed that most filters could not identify illegal or inappropriate content -- as defined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority -- using most non-web protocols.
There was also this story on Sunrise where - against their usual style - they actually talk some sense.
Finally, a little satire to lighten the mood5.
- These guys are where it's at when it comes to discussing internet (or any other kind of) censorship in Australia. Some recent posts include: Filters mandatory for all Australians: DBCDE, No opt-out from ISP filtering: Two black lists and you can only opt-out from one, Mobile filtering: ISPs choose technology, Gov set minimum level? and New Zealand talks Aussie clean feed. [↩]
- You can help get this issue some news coverage by writing to news outlets and telling them why this is such a bad idea - logically. [↩]
- The other thing we need is your voice. How can you help? [↩]
- If you know of any other MSM articles I've missed let me know in the comments, please. [↩]
- Even though this is really bloody serious. Damnit! [↩]