Largest Aussie ISP Agrees To "Ridiculous" Net-Filter Trial

Klootzak writes "Michael Malone, head of Australia's largest ISP iiNet announced today that his company would sign up to the Government's live trials of the Great Firewall of Australia. In an article published by The Age, Mr Malone is quoted calling Stephen Conroy 'The worst Communications Minister we've had in the 15 years since the [internet] industry has existed.' Despite at first giving the impression that iiNet is rolling over like a good Government puppy the article quotes Mr Malone saying that the reasons for participating in this trial is to show how unfeasible and stupid it is — Quoted from the article: 'Every time a kid manages to get through this filter, we'll be publicizing it and every time it blocks legitimate content, we'll be publicizing it.' Let's hope that in typical fashion of government-instigated Internet-filtering that this stupid idea is just as useless, inefficient and ineffectual as the last one, and that the Australian Government realizes this before wasting more taxpayer dollars on it (seeing as the first attempt only cost taxpayers $84,000,000)."

Re:iiNet

[imamac]

12 blades 'ought to be enough for everyone!

I know a lot of companies who use more than just 12 blade servers...where have you been?

Re:iiNet

[Thanshin]

Hah! You buy at the KwikEMart?

Everybody knows the KwiikEMart is much better.

Obligatory Dilbert

[Anonymous Coward]

It was just as bad an idea 12 years ago:

[dilbert.com]http://www.dilbert.com/fast/1996-01-23/ [dilbert.com]

Re:iiNet

[theaveng]

"Why get your internet service from just one puny i, we've got two!"

The UUnet already invented this idea back in the 1980s. Not just one "you" but two "yous" for that extra-special focus on the customer. ;-) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uunet [wikipedia.org]

Re:UUnet

[andyh3930]

So UUnet is not the Intranet at Discworld's Premier Thaumatological Institution?

Content

[fireheadca]

If they filter conte

"Great Firewall of Australia" . . .

[mmell]

Y'know, I understand the "Great (Fire)Wall of China". Shouldn't this be the "Australian Great Barrier Firewall"? And - isn't that in danger of being destroyed by people poking and prodding at it, punching holes in it, etc.?

Re:"Great Firewall of Australia" . . .

[lec8rje]

Surely it must be "the smut proof fence" ...

Re:"Filter advocates need to check their facts"

[DavidTC]

Okay, I don't know what this website is, and maybe it actually needed $1.2 million to develop, and $956,000 for hosting and support services.

But how the hell do you spend $928,000 spent on software and $661,000 on hardware?

Yes, not everyone uses free software for web hosting, but last I checked the most expensive version of Cold Fusion was under $10,000. I don't know how much the most expensive version of Oracle costs, but I'm rather doubting it's six fucking figures. (Remember, that doesn't include support.)

Likewise, for $661,000, you could build a damn hosting building. (And what was the $956,000 for if you've got your own building?)

Re:Obligatory Dilbert

[pitchpipe]

... and just as effective. [dilbert.com]

Re:iiNet

[N Monkey]

Actually, the iPod wasn't the gagdet which popularized the iSomething. The iMac predates it for about three years.

Surely Asimov's "iRobot" predates those. 8-P

Re:Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf

[ahankinson]

I'll go for +1 Godwin

Great...

[Midnight Thunder]

He's confirmed that unwanted content would include topics such as euthanasia, and other politicians have been pushing for gambling and anorexia websites to be added to the mandatory filter.

Now that you have mentioned those words, this is going to get slashdot blocked from Australia. Let me see what these two words mean, oh heck wikipedia is probably going to be blocked now ;)

Re:iiNet

[Super Jamie]

You mean Goatse-net :P (look at their logo)

Re:Largest ISP??

[aaron alderman]

I think the largest ISP part is actually referring to the size of their balls as opposed to the number of customers.