texinick

I find it rather ironic that you wish to talk about the Digital Economy, while your plans to create a mandatory internet filter could well destroy our Internet. Similarly, I find it ironic that Kevin Rudd is in Bali chairing a meeting about democracy while you have plans to create a mandatory internet filter without giving he people YOU serve a vote. Since when is FORCING all internet users to use the filter a democratic option? The internet is a global information pool, owned by no-one. Microsoft poured millions and millions of dollars into development to try and tie the internet to their operating system, and failed. Our previous government wasted millions of tax-payers dollars to try and censor it, and failed. What makes you think you can do any better. In the end, the people you're trying to protect are the ones you hurt while those you are trying to curb just continue to use the tools and services that you are NOT filtering. All the money that is, and has, been wasted could have developed a superb filtering package that parents could install if they are concerned about their children seeing the wrong material. The internet is far bigger than the Labour Party. I can guarantee that forcing a filter on the people you are serving without giving then a vote, will cost YOU votes in the next election. I beg you, for our internet economy, for our digital economy, for those of us who have so much vested interest in the internet and online businesses, please reconsider this ridiculous move. By all means punish the ones that are distributing the material, but please don't punish everyone.