AUSTRALIA: Government Gives Nod to Internet Censorship

The Australian government is joining China as one of the few countries that broadly censor the Internet, Duncan Riley of TechCrunch reported Dec 30.

Telecommunications Minister Stephen Conroy announced Dec 30 that, unlike prior discussions, the censorship will be mandatory, although he said that "people will be able to opt-out of it".

"The problem, of course, then becomes if you opt-out questions will be asked as to why you want out, which in itself may lead to government monitoring," stated Riley in his article, 'Australia Joins China in Censoring the Internet'.

According to the news article, "pornographic and inappropriate material' will be censored. X-rated materials are illegal online in Australia, as are casino-style Internet gambling, certain forms of 'hate' speech and R-rated computer games. How far 'inappropriate material' may extend was not made clear.

"If there is one certainty in any country that implements broadscale censorship, once they start blocking content it doesn't stop, and certainly every do-gooder group and special interest lobbyist will be wanting the government to add to the list," said Riley.

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