from The Age:
March 12, 2010 - 11:51AM Comments 19
A top media rights watchdog has listed Australia along with Iran and North Korea in a report on countries that pose a threat of internet censorship.
Paris-based media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday put Australia and South Korea on its list of countries "under surveillance" in its "Internet Enemies" report.
Australia was listed for the government's plan to block access to websites featuring material such as rape, drug use, bestiality and child sex abuse. Critics say the plan is a misguided measure that will harm civil liberties by blocking a broader range of content than just nasty material.
The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, has said he plans to introduce legislation by the end of next week that would require ISPs to block a blacklist of "refused classification" websites for all Australians. It is not clear if the government will meet this deadline; a spokeswoman for Senator Conroy said the legislation would be introduced "after it has been considered by caucus and cabinet".
In South Korea, the RSF report added, "draconian laws are creating too many specific restrictions on web users by challenging their anonymity and promoting self-censorship".
"These countries are worrying us because they have measures that could have repercussions for freedom of expression on the internet," RSF secretary general Jean-Francois Julliard said at an internet rights award ceremony on Thursday.
Russia and Turkey were also added to the watchlist, which is a category below RSF's top "Enemies of the internet", the countries it considers the 12 worst web freedom violators.
These include Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, North Korea, Iran and Vietnam.
"The world's largest netizen prison is in China, which is far out ahead of other countries with 72 detainees, followed by Vietnam and then by Iran, which have all launched waves of brutal attacks on websites in recent months," RSF's report said.
A senior manager of US internet giant Google, David Drummond, said there was an "alarming trend" of government interference in online freedom, not only in countries that are judged to have poor human rights records.
He cited Australia's plans as an example, saying that there "the wide scope of content prohibited could include socially and politically controversial material".
The Australian case "is an example of where these benign intentions can result in the spectre of true censorship", he added, speaking at Thursday's ceremony.
"Here in Europe, even in France, at this very moment, some are tempted by this slippery path of network filtering."
Last month, after Senator Conroy called on YouTube to censor videos in accordance with his filtering scheme, the search giant's head of policy in Australia, Iarla Flynn, said: "The scope of RC is simply too broad and can raise genuine questions about restrictions on access to information. RC includes the grey realms of material instructing in any crime from [painting] graffiti to politically controversial crimes such as euthanasia, and exposing these topics to public debate is vital for democracy."
AFP with Asher Moses
Source: smh.com.au
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Comments
19 comments so far
It's a pity this won't make a difference. The government's shown they're not prepared to listen to any debate or expert opinion on this matter, they have an agenda and common sense or facts aren't going to change that.
Peter | Melbourne - March 12, 2010, 12:03PM
For real...seriously.. mmm okay...
I'll pay attention when chinese nationals as allowed to search the internet for the word 'democracy' until then, this is fanciful.
Katie | Sydney - March 12, 2010, 12:03PM
The real difference will be made with our vote at the end of this year and beginning of the next one...
Marcos | Sydney - March 12, 2010, 12:11PM
Mr Conroy must be thrilled to be in such company! He also be made aware the rest of the country isn't
Andy | Wooloowin - March 12, 2010, 12:05PM
Katie i dont get your point, if you are convinced that the government will do the right thing by the average citizen because this is the wonderful land of oz than be prepared for grave dissapointment,the internet censorship will not allow for open and frank discussion on any topic the government deems unsuitable using the old kiddie porn,national security public interest card, people here have no idea what is comming their way, when the few rights the average citizen enjoys in this joke of a place are erased it will be too late, the only blame lies in the ignorance of the public.
robert | sydney - March 12, 2010, 12:14PM
The Internet these days is more like a telephone system than a broadcast medium such as books or TV. The idea that you can put Internet "content" through a classification board could only be borne from tech-ignorant political advisers. In any case, why would we want to hand the government a convenient tool to further subvert democracy and free information in this country?
Stephen Control | Brisbane - March 12, 2010, 12:12PM
Senator Conroy is a danger to democracy and freedom of expression itself.There has never before been a Senator so hell bent on censoring the people. Everyone who loves australia should be concerned.
You know what they say. Censorship is XXXXXX.
blue | bris - March 12, 2010, 12:16PM
The last paragraph in this article has the most salient point. The RC category is too broad, and can lead to many grey areas in internet censorship.
Personally, I just wish that the govt will work with Microsoft in developing software that will block sites. That way, it will be an entirely opt-in process, ISP transparent, and much more reliable at blocking.
DeeK - March 12, 2010, 12:15PM
I tell you what if this internet censorship comes in I will definately be reconsidering my vote this year! How dare this so called Minister Stephen Conroy think that he knows what's best for everyone in Australia, it's like he thinks he is some kind of internet saviour!
How wonderfull that I live in a country that I'm free, well gay marriage is not accepted, oh and of course our internet is censored, oh and our NSW government spends billions of dollars on a non existant solution to the poor public transport problems....somehow I feel not so proud to be Australian.
hmmm gives you something to think about....
Get out! | Sydney - March 12, 2010, 12:15PM
Who is this guy working for? Conroy certainly isn't working for the Australian people.
Stephen Conroy: Minister For Fascism. http://stephen-conroy.com/news.php
Hitler - Internet Censorship Australia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH35CVig3fQ
NO CLEAN FEED: http://nocleanfeed.com/
STOP THE CLEAN FEED: http://stopthecleanfeed.com/
Wake Up! | Outside the false LEFT/\RIGHT paradigm - March 12, 2010, 12:42PM
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