Largest Aussie ISP Agrees To "Ridiculous" Net-Filter Trial 231
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 (Score:5, Informative)
Re:iiNet (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What about TPG? (Score:3, Informative)
TPG was bought out by iiNet a few years ago but has retained the brand name and the control to operate independently of iiNet. This is great because I like TPGs plans after being with iiNet some time ago.
Though TPG did outsource its support lines to an Indian/Asian/Whatever company I've still got very good support from them. Only very occasionally do they had some DNS issues but it's easy enough to use iiNet's instead :)
Largest ISP?? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What a scam (Score:5, Informative)
Posting will undo some moderation, but I have to do it here...
I know that in general we look on ISPs as evil pricks, but in this case, iiNet is actually stepping up to stick it to Aussie government. iiNet isn't the perfect ISP, but they've consistently taken steps to push the Aussie ISP market in the right direction. For example, they were the first (I think) to introduce ADSL 2+ and their ADSL 2+ connection has been the fastest I've ever had, beating out connections in the US, Singapore and Australia. They also pioneered naked ADSL (which is great). When I had ADSL issues with the local telco's lines they helped diagnose and get the problem resolved.
Then there's the quotes that have been coming out of iiNet's staff about this filtering, which are leave no doubt about their thoughts about the whole thing.
They're going into this kicking and screaming and only volunteering because they know they'll kick and scream the loudest.
Full disclosure: I'm currently posting from an iiNet connection, and have been a happy customer in the past. (Though I also rate TGP's connections.)
Re:Oh no... (Score:5, Informative)
The simple answer is that it isn't about kiddie porn, it's just the rhetoric that is about kiddie porn. There's actually very little kiddie porn out there floating around on HTTP (just about the only thing that the filter will block), because no-one is stupid enough to host it when it's highly illegal pretty much everywhere. Really, if they wanted to actually remove the kiddie porn, they'd cut it off at the source - the only way that it is even possible to do. Instead, we have to wait for the content to be classified, then listed on an updated blacklist, then we have to wait for the updated blacklist to filter through to all the ISPs in the country.
It's a complex situation, but there are a few points:
The balance of power in the Australian Senate is held by a Senator from a party called "Family First". That party pioneered the concept of mandatory filtering of internet pornography, and the current government needs this one Senator's support in the Senate to get any legislation through. So it definitely wants to be on friendly terms with said Senator.
Originally it was going to be a filter at the ISP level that every ISP had to offer, but that adults could opt out of. Unfortunately the idiot in charge of telecommunications in Australia decided that the technology could also be used to ban "unwanted" content (his words) for everyone. 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.
The severe technological obstacles that would be obvious to over 99% of the posters here at slashdot are being repeatedly ignored, and opponents are being accused of peddling child pornography (I wish I was joking, this is literally what the minister is saying to his opponents). Never before have I seen a minister and his industry have such a fundamental contempt for one another.
Related Whirlpool Thread (Score:5, Informative)
Is here [whirlpool.net.au], in which an iiNet user pleads with them to not go ahead with the trial, and is replied to by Michael Malone (the head of iinet). Whirlpool is the main news / forum site on Australian broadband news and information.
I concur with the original poster, and that the ulterior motive is not about blocking child pornography, but instead about:
Australian censorship has always been pretty hopeless... - We still don't have an R18+ classification for games (although we do for movies, and print media), so games that would fall into that category are refused classification (and therefore can't be sold). This mandatory internet filtering would take things to a whole new (unwanted) level.
Unfortunately, despite Michael's best (and appreciated efforts), there's still nothing stopping them from continually moving the goalposts... and when challenged they'll continue with the "If you're not with us, then you're against us, which means you're pro-child porn" rubbish. Sounds kind of like the always attack never defend strategy endorsed by a certain science fiction author [wikipedia.org].
Re:What about TPG? (Score:5, Informative)
You are correct to doubt. TPG isn't owned by iiNet.
The only company that has been bought out by iiNet that has retained its own name is Westnet and that happened earlier this year [whirlpool.net.au].
TPG merged with Soul [whirlpool.net.au] earlier this year as well but that's about it
Re:What a scam (Score:5, Informative)
I know it's bad to reply to your own posts, but someone posted a link to a thread on Whirlpool [whirlpool.net.au] that Michael Malone has replied to. I just had to include the link because it shows you what kind of company you're dealing with. The managing director replies to a thread on a consumer advocacy forum and uses language like:
... It is not sensible to stay out of the trials. If we do that, then the government will sign up a couple of pissant ISP's from some small regional location. They will run the trials there and then say voila, it worked, perfect results, no slowdown. Then it will be legislated and enforced. That's stupid.
There is no point sticking our heads in the sand on this. I want real data that demonstrates why this is dumb, even to someone as slow as this minister.
Now, perhaps this is part of grand scheme to get this filter in place, but if so, it's so masterfully orchestrated that I think we may as well give up, they're too good to fight. :P
Credit to ghmh's comment [slashdot.org] for the link the Whirlpool thread.
Re:Oh no... (Score:0, Informative)
The balance of power in the Australian Senate is held by a Senator from a party called "Family First". That party pioneered the concept of mandatory filtering of internet pornography, and the current government needs this one Senator's support in the Senate to get any legislation through.
Actually, you're wrong.
The balance of power in the Senate is held by the Greens (5 seats), who are strongly opposed to internet censorship.
Family First only holds one seat, as does Nick Xenophon (independent).
Re:Oh no... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Oh no... (Score:4, Informative)
You seem to be completely unaware that hard core porn is considered as "illegal" as kiddie porn in Australia.
Re:Oh no... (Score:4, Informative)
Well sort of... Labor + Greens are still a minority, so the opposition can sink any legislation with either Family First or Xenephon.
Sure, the Greens oppose this legislation, but it's more about getting support for future legislation. Although Conroy is hungry for censorship, most of the Labor party is going along for the ride because they don't see it as a very big deal.
Take Action Now! (Score:5, Informative)
1) Call Senator Conroy's office on 03 9650 1188. Do not be rude, do not swear, just in a very reasoned and rational voice, express your disapproval, and in a few short sentences, say why you disagree. It matters a lot.
2) Write a letter to Senator Conroy, make sure it's between half a page to one page (no more than 400 words). Again, in a polite tone (that doesn't have to be formal, and doesn't have to have letterhead, etc., just your name and address) let him know why you disagree with him. His address is:
Senator Stephen Conroy
Level 4, 4 Treasury Place
Melbourne Vic 3002
3) Write a letter to your local MP. It doesn't matter what party he/she is from, Liberals will use your letter to back up their claims in Question Time, which gives publicity to the whole issue and will bring it to mainstream media's attention. Labor members will also express their criticism, privately, to him. This specially matters if your local MP is a Minister and serves in the Cabinet. To find out who your local MP is click here [aph.gov.au]
4) Write a letter to Prime Minister Rudd. Let him know that when the Australian people voted him in office last year, they didn't know "Education Revolution" means censorship. Rudd's address is:
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
5) Donate or become a member of Electronic Frontiers Australia [efa.org.au] . Right now the EFA is the sole organisation fighting this. They need all the help they can get.
6) Write a letter to your ISP. It doesn't matter if it's the Evil Telstra; on this, we're all together. They are fighting the battle for us right now, but it would help them to know that what they are doing is a good business practice, that you expect them to fight this to the end.
Don't just sit around and do nothing and then complain about how evil governments are. We, the citizens are the ones who allow governments to become evil, by our political apathy. Move! Take Action! Now!
www.stopthecleanfeed.com -Help us stop this idiocy (Score:2, Informative)
Efforts to prevent this idiocy ever being implemented are being organised at http://www.stopthecleanfeed.com
Please drop by and see how you can help.
Re:Citation needed. (Score:3, Informative)
What is refused classification is:
Publications that:
(a) describe, depict, express or otherwise deal
with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction,
crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or
abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they
offend against the standards of morality,
decency and propriety generally accepted by
reasonable adults to the extent that they
should not be classified; or
(b) describe or depict in a way that is likely to
cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person
who is, or appears to be, a child under 18
(whether the person is engaged in sexual
activity or not); or
(c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime
or violence
and are effectively banned.
Re:Oh no... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Oh no... (Score:3, Informative)
It's not even about stopping them, or slowing them down. It's all about the balance of power in our Senate being held by the conservative christian 'Family First' party and our current governments attempts to woo them over to their side. This is why the technical impossibility and futility of the filter isn't an issue, it's all about looking like an uptight conservative christian, and that plan is working great.