stmok

I'm opposed to the current policy regarding the mandatory content filter. It should be an opt-in policy whereby the Govt provides the option for one to use a filter or not. Let the public choose at their own discretion. This will satisfy those who feel the need to protect their children from inappropriate material on the web (and it leaves everybody else alone!). To blindly force such a filter onto all Australians without truly knowing the consequences (whether technological, moral, or political), is leaning to the side of irresponsibility. What's really interesting is that the filter only covers the web browsing protocol. How does that protect the children if the "bad people" can easily get the disgusting material via P2P and other transfer protocols? (These very protocols can also be used for legitimate purposes. Such as the distribution of open source software.) To top it off, content filters can easily be bypassed with a few minutes of searching on the web. Its simply too easy for today's children and technically competent people to workaround this multi-million dollar policy. A more appropriate approach would be to provide videos to educate parents and guardians on how to properly configure their systems (to prevent children tampering with them) and how to use such content filtering software. (We re-use the software solution as provided for free by the previous Govt). The approach would be far less controversial than a nation-wide filter that all Australians must endure.