Simply unacceptable.
http://www.theage.co … t-20090321-951z.html:
THE Government will begin trawling blog sites as part of a new media monitoring strategy, with documents singling out a website critical of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy for special mention.
Soon after Senator Conroy praised Singapore’s Government for reducing monitoring of blogs, tender documents issued by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy reveal it is looking for a “comprehensive digital monitoring service for print and electronic media”.
Stalin tried this, leading to Samizdat: the clandestine copying and distribution of government-suppressed literature or other media.
http://www.theage.co … r-20090320-94fa.html:
From the start of his role to the present, Conroy has answered critics of this scheme only with pious conceit. Question the principles of a filtering initiative that could offer Australians the sort of internet experience currently enjoyed in China, and you’ll get, at best, a mulish reply. At worst, you’ll be charged with a partiality to child pornography.
http://www.itwire.co … ent/view/23944/1023/:
This is not China. This is not pre-cold-war Soviet Union. This not North Korea or Myanmar. This is not Iran. This is not even Malaysia or Indonesia.
This is Australia, a country that is sort of like a cross between America and England, with better weather, nicer cities, an easier going lifestyle, but the same time honoured, cherished values of democracy and the freedom to pursue happiness.
All of sudden, however, it seems that we’re living in a climate of fear induced by the current Federal Government.
http://www.abc.net.a … ies/2009/2512171.htm:
In the name of protecting children, the government will decree we’ll be forbidden to see ‘unwanted’ and ‘inappropriate’ things on the web. But exactly what that means is a secret, and the thin end of the censorship wedge.
I have referenced this before, but it is worth repeating:
Probably a better alternative approach is described at http://forums.overcl … 45&postcount=15:
The best and easiest solution would be to offer a 100% tax rebate (refunded with a tax return) to anyone who purchases their choice of commercially available internet filter from the existing market place.
Senator Steven Conroy should go. And soon.
Sadly, I’m old enough and cynical enough to believe that his replacement would probably be worse.
