Like the computer, Telstra says “no” – to Aussie Net filtering

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 09 December 2008 09:32

IT Industry - Strategy

The terrible thing about an overarching ISP-level filtering solution is that it impacts everyone, whereas Internet filters are free or very inexpensive.

Anyone - parents, families, schools, libraries or even business that wish to implement a filter in their home or working environments can do so very easily – without affecting the rest of the country.

In this vein, Telstra notes that: “We offer security software that anyone can install on their computer.  We also fund several community-based safety solutions such as Super Clubs Plus and the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

“In addition, Telstra takes down individual websites which ACMA judges to be inappropriate.  We have no fundamental difficulties with a legislated regime for blocking a defined ACMA blacklist of illegal sites.

“Telstra's proactive approach has enabled BigPond to earn 'family friendly' status and helped Telstra win the respect of law enforcement authorities, the Internet industry, community sector and the general public.”

Optus meanwhile is progressing with part of the trial, so the Federal Government won’t be bereft of data from a major player, and there will no doubt be a range of other ISPs who will take part.

iiNet has promised to take part specifically to show the Government how stupid the idea of filtering the Internet really is.

APC Magazine quotes others in the media who believe that the entire filtering shamozzle may simply be playing politics, to prove to the “religious right” that filtering is just too difficult to enforce and would annoy far too many people, despite the Government’s best efforts.

The thing is, unless we do want Australia to turn into the censored country, instead of the lucky country, filtering really IS to complicated and too likely to slow things down precisely at the time we need to speed the Internetup.

Politics is a funny business, isn’t it? So is Internet filtering and censorship. Do we really need to make the tyranny of distance that we already suffer online worse?

It’s a question our “Dear Leaders” want an answer to. Just like the computer (of Little Britain fame), the answer should be “no”.