Antipodeon

Some well made points here already. Site level filtering is one thing, but listening in on peer-to-peer traffic is quite another. Really what is stopping you from 'filtering' my skype chats or sending my mum a photo via yahoo messenger?

It's a bit of an insult to say that parents don't have the technical skills to apply pc level filters. It's more likely that parents chose not to impose such measures because they are no subsitute for parental supervision and education.

I've been using the internet now for over 15 years. Back then, I could call a bulletin board phone number and be exposed to whatever was at the other end. For 15 years, there has been no politician telling me what I can and can't see. I might have been exposed to some things that I would rather have not seen, but I was equally appalled at scenes from Athens last week.

As a 14 year old, I used to walk into a public mobile library every friday and borrow books. The librarians occasionally raised their eyebrows, but never banned me from reading materials that had been approved by the government censors - not for children, but adults.

I understand that the government feels the need to protect me from things it believes to be offensive, but I would really rather make up my own mind. If the government is doing its job - and providing a culture that is tolerant and an education system that works, then I should be able to determine what media I want to consume - on any media.