Astronomer

So Australian authorities have been given the green light to start filtering what we can view on the Internet, and personally I think this is ridiculous. After so much criticism of the great firewall of China, I'm afraid things are starting to go the same way on our turf.

Links:

Green light for internet filter plans - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Internet Censorship Plan Approved In Australia | Stephen Conroy

What do you guys think about Internet censorship? One of the main arguments for this action was the fact that young children need to be protected from seeing certain things on the Internet that are "not suitable in a civilised society." Can't parents implement their own filters on their own computers if they're so worried about their children coming across things that they shouldn't be? Shouldn't extremely young children be supervised when using the Internet, just like they are supervised when watching certain rated television shows or films? And if they're old enough to not be supervised I am sure they will be able to handle content that they may see.

I don't know, I just don't believe in censorship, especially in this kind of format. Once it's given the green light who knows what's going to happen in terms of censorship and freedom?

Opinions/ thoughts on internet censorship?

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Burning Down

Yes, I think this is absolutely ridiculous for a democratic nation. Australia is not a communist state, so why control what people can and can't look up on the Internet? I understand offices, schools, and libraries filtering what can be displayed on THEIR computers, but what someone does in the privacy of their own house is not the government's business, nor should it ever be. If someone wants to watch porn, so be it. If parents are worried about what their kids are looking up on the Internet, then either they need to get some kind of strong filter (i.e. Net Nanny) or restrict their kids to using the computer while being surpervised. I think that if the kid is deemed old enough to be unsurpervised on the Internet, then they're mature enough to handle whatever shows up on the screen. Search engines like Google and Yahoo have their own filters that block adult content, so those should be activated if the kid needs to look something up. Same thing with TV. Satellite and cable companies often have a feature where an adult can input a password to block any adult channels and any other channels that the parents think are inappropriate.

mr dave

sounds to me like there are lots of parents (or parent groups) who want the government to raise their children for them. not really sure why those individuals chose to become parents in the first place.

the biggest problem with self policing the internet is that more often than not the kids know more about it than the parents. that's obviously changing now, but all the old school net 'protection' programs could EASILY be circumvented with just a right click. if the app isn't running the 'protection' is no longer in place. there's NO WAY a horny teenager would figure out how to do that for free porn. nope. no way.

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i am the universe

Astronomer

Ha very true, but chances are a horny teenager doesn't need much 'protecting' from content on the internet as they are old enough to police (or not police) their own actions and understand what they see or hear. In the statements about internet censorship in Australia, most of the pro-censorship people were talking more about very young children. But if that is the case, 1) I doubt very young children would be able to get past any filters 2) Most schools DO have their own filters in place and 3) Young children should not be left to navigate the Internet on their own if people are so worried about what they might see!

Like you said, parents are wanting an easy way for their children to be monitored without them having to do much. Just like when children are to be supervised when watching a television or movie that may contain adult themes (so that they can be guided and not confused or hurt by what the see) parents who are so worried about their children should supervise them while they are using the Internet! It's called parenting...

Anyway, I think it's bullshit. Censorship to me just makes me think that authorities are controlling what I can and cannot have access to and I don't like it.

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mr dave

i absolutely agree with everything you've said in this thread but this one is by far one of the most significant elements. parents need to stop worrying about what their children will be exposed to when they stop watching and need to start developing the child's ability to pass judgment on what is presented to them.

i've also been complaining since college that public elementary education needs some sort of media studies program. starting at like 7-8 years old. it obviously doesn't need to go into great depth initially but there has to be something in place to help teach young kids to not believe everything they see on tv or read in a magazine.

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Fruitonica

Yeah, I completely agree with Lateralus - it's a terrible plan. I'm surprised at how little attention this is getting in the press, it seems like the government is really trying to slip it through quietly.

Astronomer

I know! I watched the news on several stations tonight and didn't hear anything about it.

Also... I've heard that this whole censorship/ filter thing is going to slow down the speed of Australia's internet even more, when it is already pretty crap. Ugh. The whole idea is just stupid and pointless.

Trying to change their view is a losing battle though, just like the fight to get R18+ video games in Australia.

And mr dave - yeah, you're completely right. If children are introduced to media and what it can involved at a young age, they can learn how to use the Internet safely and be aware that not everything that appears in the media has merit. Also, most children are a lot smarter than adults give them credit for - a lot of the time they know what is going on and what merit certain pieces of information have.

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Captain Awesome

What he said^

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"Wake up and listen, hear what's not for the public's ears
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noise

have you people actually looked at what is being blocked? they're talking about 4chan style crap. child pornography and sexual violence and beastiality and that sort of thing. most of what is being blocked is illegal anyway. the sites are being filtered because they are hosted offshore, where the australian government has no jurisdiction. if a site like that shows up and is hosted in australia, it will be taken down, and the people responsible will probably be in deep ****.

99.999% of all internet users won't be affected by this. if you are among the miniscule minority who is affected, then you can go ahead and cry, but i doubt you'll get much sympathy from anyone.

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Astronomer

Well I heard that the whole thing is going to slow down our internet immensely, which is why everyone is up in arms about it. And this really sucks because Australia's internet is already crap how it is.

I just don't see the point to it, it's basically impossible to access child pornography anyway unless you actually go searching for it... as soon as censorship is given the green light it just seems as though they have the power to control what we see... who knows how expansive the censorship will get with time?

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