Comments on: The filtering wars: EFA vs Hamilton http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/17/the-filtering-wars-efa-vs-hamilton/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:03:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Greg Angelo http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/17/the-filtering-wars-efa-vs-hamilton/#comment-17934 Greg Angelo Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-17934 <br />The tools that the government is apparently testing are no different from controls use by despotic governments in China, Burma, North Korea, and less repressive but similarly obsessive governments in countries like Malaysia. If we allow this ISP filtering control to proceed we are potentially facilitating “Big Brother” controls for a despotic future government. Theser is no transparency evident in the current proposals.<br /><br />We must preserve a democratic right of access to information, ideas and images no matter how challenging. Internet filtering in the children's section to libraries and schools where parental supervision is not possible is quite acceptable but mature adults should have the right to see what they want.<br /><br />Rather than content blocking, we need rigourous legal definitions of what is permissible content, and stiff penalties for those breaching those contents. This includes child pornography bestiality and maltreatment of animals to name three examples.<br /><br /> The tools that the government is apparently testing are no different from controls use by despotic governments in China, Burma, North Korea, and less repressive but similarly obsessive governments in countries like Malaysia. If we allow this ISP filtering control to proceed we are potentially facilitating “Big Brother” controls for a despotic future government. Theser is no transparency evident in the current proposals.

We must preserve a democratic right of access to information, ideas and images no matter how challenging. Internet filtering in the children’s section to libraries and schools where parental supervision is not possible is quite acceptable but mature adults should have the right to see what they want.

Rather than content blocking, we need rigourous legal definitions of what is permissible content, and stiff penalties for those breaching those contents. This includes child pornography bestiality and maltreatment of animals to name three examples.

]]> By: steve martin http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/17/the-filtering-wars-efa-vs-hamilton/#comment-17935 steve martin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-17935 " But it is encouraging that filter opponents are so unable to address the real problems that they need such transparent straw men to bolster their claims." - Eh! Don't you mean filter proponents ” But it is encouraging that filter opponents are so unable to address the real problems that they need such transparent straw men to bolster their claims.” - Eh! Don’t you mean filter proponents

]]> By: Gail http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/17/the-filtering-wars-efa-vs-hamilton/#comment-17936 Gail Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-17936 Today's piece in the Australian by Stephen Conroy is much more of a concern than Clive Hamilton's tired old arguments. Clive could try applying some academic rigour to his articles rather than posting pornographic fantasies as though it was evidence. <br /><br />http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25068568-5013046,00.html<br /><br />Senator Conroy has failed to even update his rhetoric and the article is just about a copy of the boilerplate Labor responses to concerned constituents. There is no reason for the secrecy that has surrounded this censorship plan if there was no political agenda. Today’s piece in the Australian by Stephen Conroy is much more of a concern than Clive Hamilton’s tired old arguments. Clive could try applying some academic rigour to his articles rather than posting pornographic fantasies as though it was evidence.

http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25068568-5013046,00.html

Senator Conroy has failed to even update his rhetoric and the article is just about a copy of the boilerplate Labor responses to concerned constituents. There is no reason for the secrecy that has surrounded this censorship plan if there was no political agenda.

]]> By: Pam Rosengren http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/17/the-filtering-wars-efa-vs-hamilton/#comment-17937 Pam Rosengren Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-17937 The irony is that Clive Hamilton's most recent post would be blocked by the filter, it contained so much salacious content. His own freedom of speech would be blocked.<br /><br />Thanks for emphasising the distinction between a technologically literate opposition to the filter, and 'extreme libertarianism'. Hamilton's conflation of the two is just a re-hash of the failed 'opposers of the filter are supporters of child porn' meme. The irony is that Clive Hamilton’s most recent post would be blocked by the filter, it contained so much salacious content. His own freedom of speech would be blocked.

Thanks for emphasising the distinction between a technologically literate opposition to the filter, and ‘extreme libertarianism’. Hamilton’s conflation of the two is just a re-hash of the failed ‘opposers of the filter are supporters of child porn’ meme.

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