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Conroy to opt for tiered Internet filtering

By Brett Winterford Ben Grubb 

Source:
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/104642,conroy-to-opt-for-tiered-internet-filtering.aspx

Senator Conroy's office has confirmed the Government plans only to
introduce mandatory internet filtering for web content that is Refused
Classification (RC), with all other explicit content filtered on a
voluntary basis by internet service providers.

After months of mixed messages on what content would be filtered on a
"mandatory" basis and what content on a "voluntary" or "optional"
basis, a spokesperson for Senator Conroy told iTnews that mandatory
ISP-level filtering will only apply to RC content drawn from
complaints made to the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media
Authority).

The "other unwanted content" the Senator has oft referred to in
speeches - rated R18+ or X18+ -  will not be included in the mandatory
filtering system. It is hoped instead that ISPs will offer additional
filtering services - as an optional extra to customers - to block this
content.

"ISPs can offer to filter additional content if they choose to, as an
optional service for families," the spokesperson said. "The Government
would not mandate IP filtering or classifying web sites [beyond the RC
classification]. Commercial offerings can do that."

The Government plans to take an active role in promoting any
commercial internet filtering product offered by ISPs that goes above
and beyond the mandatory blocking of RC sites on the ACMA blacklist.

"ISP filtering forms one component part of the Government's $125.8
million cyber-safety plan, which acknowledges there is no silver
bullet for cyber-safety and includes a comprehensive range of
measures," the spokesperson said.

Colin Jacobs, vice chair of Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA)
welcomed the softening of Senator Conroy's approach - with some
caveats.

"Given how broad ACMA's current list is, we have to welcome this
change to an RC-only list," he said. "However, the same questions
still remain - how will the list be administered? How will mistakes be
rectified? How will an Australian business know it has been added to
the list?"

In a Senate Estimates hearing last week, Senator Conroy said the
Government was considering the appointment of independent auditors to
ensure some integrity around this process.

A softer approach?

Senator Conroy's office claims the two-tiered approach has been the
Government's thinking since day one - a claim refuted by
anti-filtering activist and Internode network engineer, Mark Newton.

"The Government's tender documents don't mention Refused
Classification at all, regardless of what [Conroy's office] says in
June 2009," he said. "The documents released last November
specifically cited mandatory censorship of ACMA Prohibited Content."

Jacobs, meanwhile, insists the "minor policy shift" does not address
"the more fundamental problems" with the internet filtering scheme.

"Filtering out a handful of RC-only sites won't make the Internet any
safer for kids, nor will it slow down the traffic in illegal
material," he said. "Yet it still comes at a high cost, both
financially and to our freedom of speech. It seems more about
fulfilling an election promise than achieving any particular policy
aim."