Australian government calls for live Internet filter trial

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 12 November 2008 02:20

Business IT - Networking

What's more, ISPs will be allowed to charge customers extra if they implement the optional filtering.

Note also that the ACMA blacklist is likely to be seriously expanded. Currently, URLs are added to the list when complaints to the ACMA are upheld, but there are plans to augment the list with blacklists compiled by US and UK organisations.

The current blacklist contains around 1300 URLs, but the addition of overseas lists is likely to expand that to around 10,000, the department has warned ISPs - and "this is also expected to fluctuate over time."

There is no mention of any provision for public scrutiny to ensure that URLs are not added to the blacklist for reasons other than those provided by the relevant legislation - the list is treated as a secret document.

ISPs are being asked to participate for at least six weeks, and the department is hoping a representative cross section of providers (in terms of size, geographical markets, and technology - including mobile phone carriers) will get involved.

According to the Department's request for expression of interest, "ISPs will be recognised for their participation in the Pilot. This recognition will strengthen their brand image with the community."

Possibly - but there's also a risk that it will harm their image. Given the level of community outrage about the whole proposal, it seems likely that participating ISPs will be regarded as 'collaborators.'

So how is the government encouraging ISPs to take part in the trial? See page 3.