FamilyVoice call to expand ISP filters

By John Hilvert on Feb 4, 2011 11:03 AM
Filed under Telco/ISP

Row flares up in Adelaide.

Christian lobby FamilyVoice Australia has called for the Government's delayed internet filter proposal to be introduced as soon as possible with even more restrictions than first planned.

At a Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety hearing in Adelaide yesterday, FamilyVoice argued that mandatory filtering was essential to assisting parents and kids cope with harmful content on the net.

FamilyVoice (formerly the Festival of Light) proposed a strong interventionist approach for net filtering by ISPs.

Apart from calling for internet filtering to be expedited, FamilyVoice recommended that access to suicide-related material be prohibited and offshore gambling "be made more difficult".

It also recommended the filter blacklist include suicide online gaming and refused classification games and that "family friendly ISPs" filter all MA15+, R18+ and X18+ material [pdf].

The recommendations were challenged by Liberal MP Alexander Hawke.

"You are looking for a technological solution - which I think is a bit of a Nirvana," Hawke told FamilyVoice research officer Roslyn Phillips.

"Why have you bypassed the option of more resources for law enforcement to target criminal behaviour - especially in relation to children online, which I think has merit?"

"We are not saying there ought not be education, but as with swimming pools there are laws requiring fences and those fences have saved many lives," Phillips responded.

"The fence alone does not protect your child, you need to teach your child to swim.

"What we find worrying is that there are some sections of Parliament - and it may even be your own party - who are telling us we should object to Senator Conroy's mandatory ISP filtering and instead leave it up to parents.

"My problem is, that as a parent, I can control what happens in my home, but I cannot control what happens outside - even though my own children may not have a mobile phone with internet access, their friends are likely to have one."

Phillips agreed that having parental filters in the home was not the only solution.

"But for some of the worst material, you need Senator Conroy's mandatory filters."

20 comments in this discussion

"@rokotov: There are only a handful of online gambling sites that are licensed to offer that gambling in Australia. I believe Betfair is one?? So no issues there I would think. However $billions ..."

By Maxxi2

Tags

internet, filter, isp, mandatory, conroy, familyvoice, tough, christian, lobby

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Comments: 20

grumpybug Feb 4, 2011 12:11 PM	Okley Dokley Ned Flanders, thanks for you input there and while we are at it block any site that has cussing words on it,sites that don't promote going to church on Sundays and Chocolate, because as we all know chocolate is the devil's food. In fact I'm off to have a cold shower now and scrub myself with steel wool to clense myself of any other impure thoughts just from reading ITnews.
realitybites Feb 4, 2011 12:39 PM	"My problem is, that as a parent, I can control what happens in my home, but I cannot control what happens outside.." Outside is what we call the 'Real World', what makes you think you have the right to 'control it'? (didley)
Ace Feb 4, 2011 12:39 PM	Roslyn uses the analogy of a pool fence, but failed to notice you can still see the pool despite the fence. This is the problem she has not quite got to grips with. How many kids died from seeing a pornographic image on their screen? None? So how is a filter going to 'save' them? How many kids died from seeing a pool? None? Roslyn seems to be implying that if kids see porn, they're going to become porn stars or die or something. A little far-fetched? The trouble with these groups is that, while we're sitting around giggling at them, they're out there making a lot of hoopla and getting laws changed.
realitybites Feb 4, 2011 1:28 PM	Yeah I know we should be taking these groups seriously Ace, but when they come out with statements like these, well.. it's just so hard to NOT laugh..
Ice Feb 4, 2011 2:07 PM	with the comments he made in the article he doesnt trust that he bought his own children up the way he wanted .
developerchris Feb 4, 2011 3:35 PM	Its about control. Its not about porn or paedophilia or anything else, religious groups of ALL persuasions are about control, control what you see do and think. in that way they believe they can save you. Oh and increase their own savings at the same time. It is no less than a government keeping its constituents in the dark to... Oh I don't know democracy.
developerchris Feb 4, 2011 3:37 PM	One more thing, about suicide. the son of a dear friend passed away violently a few months ago. Most people don't know but there is an embargo on talking about suicide (in the media) I think it must change sweeping it under the carpet only hides the horrible reality it does not fix anything.
anonymous Feb 4, 2011 4:06 PM	If "FamilyVoice research officer Roslyn Phillips" ever did any real research, she would quickly find that secret government censorship will not do a damn thing about "the worst of the worst". Scum who peddle child pornography would never do so in a way that would be caught by the filter, and it will do even less about controlling the use of social networks for grooming kids. In fact all that it would do is give parents a false sense of security so that they would be less inclined to supervise their kid's online activities. Oh, and perhaps it might give Roslyn Phillips a somewhat misplaced sense of power.
brownbear Feb 4, 2011 5:36 PM	@developerchris. My sincere condolences on your tragic loss of your dear friends son. Regrettably researches believed that the publicity about a suicide causes copy cat attempts of suicide by other young people in particular. This is the reason that the media have imposed a voluntary embargo on reporting youth suicide in particular. I am sure that your local youth suicide support service would be happy to give you more information if you would like it. As to the Family Voice Australia I can only ask why you would support the continuation of child sexual assaults by people wanting to make a quick buck by hiding it from general view. I know your Bible is full of very nasty stuff but I didn't think the Rev Fred Nile's group had sunk so low.
DazzaJ Feb 4, 2011 9:16 PM	Suicide should be a right, especially in societys where minority groups force themselves on to the weak. Goups like this family voice and the greenies have absolutely no idea what the REAL world is about. Welcome to the fantasy world. Take responsibility for your own actions - just once, instead of demanding every one else have to suffer because of your own short falls, and misguided beliefs. Parents should be responsible for what their children are up to, not the government. If your so paranoid about the internet then don't have it put on! I'd suggest keeping children away from sites of fantasy and brain washing, such as the sites where magic gods and dictators punish those that don't obey and cast them into hell. Hang on that the christian sites!
Wakie Feb 5, 2011 3:54 AM	Yet another dickhead Christian lobby group. Great.
legless Feb 5, 2011 6:31 AM	And while we're adding all of the things that cause so many problems in the world according to these fanatics (pornography, abortion, suicide, terrorism sites) let's not forget the subject about which more wars are fought than any other "religion". Let's put all religious sites at the top of the list. Then of course any site that mentions a word that has anything to do with religion and poof itnews goes away as someone here wrote the word "Christian" in a comment. If people want to have certain beliefs then fine, even inflict those views on their own children (bad enough) but stop trying to shove your ideas down everyone's throat.
cw Feb 5, 2011 11:38 AM	Family Voice Australia better do a little more research, if they did they would see that blocking anything based on the rating will be ineffective. Just to prove my point, the following URLs have been rated by the Classification Board as indicated. PG - http://faculty.unlv.edu/pkane/ART242X/beauty/son.html G - http://www.beautifulcervix.com/cervix-photo-galleries/ Context is extremely important to our classification system and that is why it fails when applied to the Internet. Looking at content in an art or health science class is different from sitting in a dark room at home when alone. The real question is should it matter?
Thunder Bird Feb 5, 2011 3:23 PM	Fortunately for the Australian people our prime minister is a dyed in the wool atheist and as such she is highly unlikely to be swayed into swallowing any of the gobbledy gook that this crowd of religious zealots keep sprouting. I think it is such a great pity that when cyclone Yasi went through Queensland it did not venture further south and go through the bible belt and give these religious fanatics something else to contemplate other than minding everyone else's business.
Corsair Feb 5, 2011 9:59 PM	FamilyVoice Australia? I don't think so. More like DelusionalIncomptentVoice Australia.
Slatts Feb 6, 2011 2:27 PM	I think Kevin Bloody Wilson said it best. This link leads to very strong language. You have been warned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAvpJ2tQNw4
rokotov Feb 7, 2011 9:27 AM	"...and offshore gambling "be made more difficult" LOL. What about onshore one? Is it another attempt to block companies like Betfair to operate in Australia? Now with Christian artificial coloring?
Fungyo Feb 9, 2011 1:20 AM	The problem with religious folks is they're taught not to question things, to have Blind Faith.
Ace Feb 9, 2011 1:10 PM	Questioning the Word Of The Lord as interpreted by FamilyVoice may well be regarded as sacriligious. What if they have the power to cancel the passports of people wishing to travel through the pearly gates?
Maxxi2 Feb 9, 2011 1:57 PM	@rokotov: There are only a handful of online gambling sites that are licensed to offer that gambling in Australia. I believe Betfair is one?? So no issues there I would think. However $billions are spent annually on overseas and unlicensed gambling sites, where no taxes or benefits flow back into the Australian economy (aka your pockets and my pockets) at all. This is not a religious issue primarily, but these folks are as free as anyone to comment. It is an Australian economy and legal question. Australians are losing revenues, tax dollars and financial benefits whenthis money flows unrestricted OS. ie: You and I are paying for those lost tax dollars. On top of that, the vast majority of OS gambling sites do not have the safety nets, controls and governance that we require in Australia to limit problem gambling and addiction. So to sum up: It is in the interest of all Australians (except those using the OS sites... >;)), to keep the gambling $$$ here and helping the rest of us to pay less taxes and support our own businesses.