itsjustme

I have long thought about the government’s internet filter plans and on hearing about this blog, I decided to write of my concerns. I must be a dill. I couldn't find the blog by going to dbcde.gov.au. I had to revert to Google. But I digress, If a body like AISA (Australian Information Security Association) doesn’t think a filter is a good idea, then I think their opinion should be afforded significant weight, by the government. Firstly, I am against the filter because of its mandatory nature for all ISPs. I know it is illegal to view child pornography over the Internet and I believe it is my responsibility to abide by the law or suffer the consequences. I don’t need the government to be my conscience. I do not have any children but if I did it is my responsibility as a parent to see they have a strong moral code and will become law abiding citizens. I don’t need the government to “say” what sites may be accessed and what may not be. Secondly, what happens if all customers of an ISP do not want their Internet access filtered? Would that ISP be exempted from applying the filter? A condition of using such an ISP is being wiling to accept unfiltered Internet access? To maintain my current Internet speeds, I am willing to accept unfiltered Internet content. Surely, it is a person’s choice as to whether they want certain sites blocked or not. Thirdly, I ask what sites are to be blocked and how? Also, what will determine how sites are to be added to the filtered list? What will stop future governments from doing what China has done in the past, blocking access to all overseas sites. For transparency reasons, surely the government should publish the list of sites that are being filtered / blocked. Finally, I am against the introduction of a filter because of the negative impact it will have on the speed I can access the Internet. Every time I access the Internet the filter would need to be applied. Who says that a site cannot contain both legitimate and illegitimate content? Surely the list of sites to be filtered will grow rapidly, as sites that are filtered are set up under new URLs. Old sites would need to be left on the list, just in case the owners go back to using them.