John Dodds

As a 7th Generation Australian, living in the USA, I object to the idea of an internet filter.

The filter provides a mechanism for censoring internet content without the right to challenge if the content is actually illegal or not.

A better way to eliminate the "illegal" content, is to allow people to file a complaint to the police that a certain piece is illegal. Just exactly the way that people can currently complain about other illegal acts. The police can investigate if specific laws have been broken, and take appropriate action, INCLUDING being subject to challenge in the court system.

The courts can then force an illegal site to be blocked, or taken down if within the Australian Courts jurisdiction.

Arbitrarily filtering without public/court review will apparently trap up to 3% of legal sites. The Government and the ISPs will be liable for the consequences of this illegal filtering/blocking of legal sites, subjecting the Government & ISPs to the potential for massive monetary damages, and the potential for Government and ISP malfeasance.

Internet filtering and declaration of illegal content should be subject to criminal prosecution and court checks and balances just like all conduct. Pass a law that identifies what is illegal and then fine or gaol/jail the transgressors just like all other illegal acts.