Don't mention the filtering trial!

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 26 March 2009 01:21

Opinion and Analysis

The ACMA noted that it had minimal impact on service performance because of the limited number of web sites to be filtered, and had been deployed by a large number of UK ISPs and a number overseas. This report had been commissioned by the Coalition Government, so perhaps Conroy chose to ignore it, because when he subsequently directed the ACMA to undertake a laboratory trial of filtering technologies, those such as Cleanfeed were specifically excluded.

In its subsequent report - "Closed Environment Testing of ISP Level Content Filters" - on its laboratory trial of filtering technology - the ACMA said: "The trial did not assess any products that are especially designed to perform the specific task of blocking illegal content only," because it had been charged with testing "the accuracy of filters in blocking inappropriate content." However the ACMA did take the opportunity to remind the minister of Cleanfeed's proven capability, telling him that "all other factors being equal, a filter product designed to perform the specific task of identifying and blocking illegal content only will cause less performance degradation and be more accurate than a filter product targeting a significantly broader range of content."

So if the minster is so adamant that RC content should be blocked why is he not setting this as a priority - after all blocking it seem to be pretty straightforward?

Telstra has the right approach
And while the minister might be obsessively pursuing his goal of blocking a large range of 'undesirable' or 'inappropriate' content, or at least proving to the government and the community at large that he can, Australia's largest ISP seems to have got its priorities right.

Telstra has said it is not in a position to participate in the Government's Internet filtering trial, primarily due to customer management issues. However, it is on the record stating that "Telstra is separately evaluating technology that allows the blocking of defined blacklists and we will continue to work constructively with all stakeholders, including the Federal Government, to help provide a safe Internet environment for children." iTWire has been reliably informed that one of the technologies Telstra is trialling is Cleanfeed.

•    NBN announcement 'soon' but still 'no decision'
Conroy was being very guarded in his response to questions about the NBN saying that "People will make an assumption on everything I say." But he did refute recent reports that the Acacia consortium was the chosen one saying "it is not true...we have not made a decision yet," and he did confirm that "We are on track to make a final decision when [prime minister Kevin Rudd] gets back from his trip to the US."

He had earlier said that an announcement would be made shortly after Rudd got back, and perhaps even before. If that is the case it must surely after come to a decision by now.