Protest: 19,000 Australians petition against Internet filter

By Liz Tay on Jun 22, 2010 3:02 PM
Filed under Telco/ISP

Petition tabled in the Senate.

More than 19,000 Australians have opposed mandatory internet filtering in a petition tabled in the Senate this week.

Launched in mid-January by Electronics Frontier Australia (EFA), the petition asserts that individuals - not the Government - should be allowed to determine how and what online content is blocked.

Printed and online signatures were collected nationwide, from Perth CBD to Sydney's Northern Beaches and Darwin suburb, Nakara.

Declaring that "mandatory internet filtering is censorship", the petition called for the Senate to reject the Labor Government's $23.8m ISP-level internet filtering proposal.

Petitioners asked that the Senate reject any plan to filter the internet, and redirect funding to law enforcement agencies or education programs instead.

They further requested that the Senate disallow any legislation that compels internet providers to filter any Australian user's connection, unless expressly requested to do so by the user.

The petition was tabled yesterday by Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, who has been a vocal opponent of the filter proposal.

"The only way to protect internet users from some of the worst elements is through a combination of law enforcement, education and optional filters, not a mandatory filter," Ludlam said today.

"The industry and many business and civil society groups have been demanding Communications Minister [Stephen] Conroy to abandon the net filter. It's time he listened to those voices."

Conroy's Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) has not yet responded to iTnews' request for comment.

Protest: 19,000 Australians petition against Internet filter

7 comments in this discussion

"Peterniss you are right. Many people are not signing petitions as they are concerned that other people like johnpro2 think they are perv. In reality each government around the world is considering ..."

By papaiso

Tags

ludlam, conroy, filter, government, efa, petition

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Comments: 7

johnpro2 Jun 22, 2010 6:09 PM	19 000 paedophiles & porn aficionados + or - a few for statistical error. I'm shocked. Filters are definitely needed for you lot. Jp
Pilotyoda Jun 22, 2010 9:24 PM	@johnpro2. I could actually take offence, but I will forgive the lack of broad understanding of the political and social implications. The filter is flawed on several levels, is incapable of stopping the really nasty stuff, will have a performance and cost impact, and is most definitely open to abuse by government. Conroy has already admitted they would add to the list, at any time, should there be a requirement. A lot of money will go to waste, and not one of those abusing children will be stopped. But you can bet your bottom dollar the pollies will be laughing all the way to the bank because the amount of unaccountable control and power all future governments will have over your communication and information infrastructure. In the words of the past US president, "it's a no-brainer".
scan06disk Jun 22, 2010 10:21 PM	@JP is that hamster still running up top ? just curious, Thanks ! :D
Bazwalt Jun 23, 2010 8:42 AM	@Pilotyoda - I believe you just got trolled :)
peterniss Jun 23, 2010 8:52 AM	Everyone @JP2 - Please, DO NOT FEED THE TROLL. Srsly I dont think this shows anything close to the real number of those against. I am just like any other sane rational non superfundo clueless probclosetpedo christian nutjob omgitstheinternet letsbringthenationbackafewcenturies. And im not sure ive signed this yet.
Plutonium Jun 24, 2010 11:51 AM	Kill the troll! After all, the unelected ALP right knifed Rudd this morning. But seriosuly, what are we going to do with Conroy? Hit him over the head with a petition? The only way Julia could hope to get my vote back is to cut Conroy into little pieces AND can his "Great unAustralian Wall". Off to the Greens, I've already gone.
papaiso Jul 16, 2010 3:50 PM	Peterniss you are right. Many people are not signing petitions as they are concerned that other people like johnpro2 think they are perv. In reality each government around the world is considering mandatory filtering and they all use pedophilia as the excuse. In reality the simply want to have control on all media. They have it on printed media as well as on radio and televisions but not on the Internet. The Internet is the only relay democratic media where everyone can say what they want. Basically it is real "freedom of speech". The government proposal relies on a secret list of banned sites. So... they decide what is good or bad for you to see and you wont have a chance to object. What the government is really doing is limiting our freedom of speech and information. Last election I voted for this government but if they do not step back on this draconian legislation next time I will not vote for them.