dslreports logo
 story category
Australian Internet Filtering Plan Gets More Ridiculous
Filters to be mandatory for all connections, no real opt-out...
Over the last few years, Australian lawmakers have been enamored with the idea of Internet filters, spending almost a hundred million on filtering technology that a teenager was able to circumnavigate in just a few minutes. When Internet filters were voluntary and made available for download, the numbers showed that nobody used them. Undeterred, InfoWorld reports that the Australian government now wants to make the filters mandatory for all Australians, and that there's no real opt-out mechanism in place:
quote:
Australians will be unable to opt-out of the government's pending Internet content filtering scheme, and will instead be placed on a watered-down blacklist, experts say. Under the government's $125.8 million Plan for Cyber-Safety, users can switch between two blacklists which block content inappropriate for children, and a separate list which blocks illegal material..."Users can opt-out of the 'additional material' blacklist (referred to in a department press release, which is a list of things unsuitable for children, but there is no opt-out for 'illegal content, (says one network engineer)
So far similar efforts here in the States have either been simply too stupid to work or ruled unconstitutional. But as we mentioned yesterday, with child porn used as a rallying cry, there's a growing push in the States to use Deep Packet Inspection to monitor each and every packet you send and receive for legality. At the heart of most of these efforts? The entertainment industry, who wants ISPs and government to protect their failing business models.
view:
topics flat nest 

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

The entertainment industry, who wants ISPs and government to protect their failing business models.
And why is the business model failing? Because there are too many people with no morals and think stealing a service is acceptable.
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD

1 recommendation

nasadude

Member

Re: Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

said by FFH5:

And why is the business model failing? Because there are too many people with no morals and think stealing a service is acceptable.
so the content industries' business model - suing customers, making content less valuable by adding DRM - is failing because of infringers?

who knew this powerful engine of economic growth, so vital to the U.S. economy they need special protection by the U.S. government, is so susceptible to people that simply make digital copies.

maybe they should change their business model. on the other hand, getting the government to prop up your business model is easier, I guess, but it looks like socialism to me.
cornelius785
join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

1 recommendation

cornelius785

Member

Re: Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

don't forget about producing content that isn't worth shelling out ~$20 for a few good songs, ~$8 (ignoring the overpriced food and drink) to see a movie, ~$20 for a disc that has the possibility not being compatible with the player or not allowing playback on a ~$1000 TV.

i think the entertainment industry is doing just fine. they charge a fortune for seats at sport games, sport stars and movie stars (along with the executives) are making millions while contributing partically NOTHING of real value (like say developments in science, engineering, physics, medical technology, saving lives at the hospital, just to name a very small selection) to society. I'll never shed a tear if something bad happens to sport star or a movie star.

TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium Member
join:2000-11-08
Da Bronx
·Verizon FiOS
Ubiquiti NSM5
Synology RT2600ac
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

1 recommendation

TamaraB to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

And why is the business model failing? Because there are too many people with no morals and think stealing a service is acceptable.
And you know this is the reason for their failure because? Got a reliable source for this FUD?

Bob

MrMoody
Free range slave
Premium Member
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
Netgear CM500
Asus RT-AC68

1 recommendation

MrMoody

Premium Member

Re: Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

The movie/TV industry is not failing despite widespread personal copying, they're just crying to Uncle. They do plenty well with their current distribution model.

The music industry is failing however, and has been going backward for over 10 years now, but it's not due to copying (which always happened), it's because of competition for entertainment dollars from the superior value of movies, and a deteriorating product due to their desire to make their own mass-produced crap they can control completely, rather than encourage truly creative artists whom they then have to pay.

TechyDad
Premium Member
join:2001-07-13
USA

TechyDad to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Except that filters don't work. There are always ways around them or new sites that aren't added. Plus, there is the question of who decides that material should be on a blacklist. If an independent music organization (not pirated music) pops up, could they find their site on the blacklist due to industry pressure? What means would sites have of challenging their listing (both on the "additional material" and "illegal content" blacklists)? Would it be a simple online form/phone call? Or would it be multiple layers of government? Would the list of filtered sites (and reasons for filtering) be made available to third parties so they could double-check the government's listings?

I'm guessing that lists of sites won't be made available, challenging a listing will be nearly impossible, and it is only a matter of time before some corrupt individual takes a bribe to list a site.

footballdude
Premium Member
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO

1 recommendation

footballdude

Premium Member

Re: Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

said by TechyDad:

Except that filters don't work. There are always ways around them or new sites that aren't added. Plus, there is the question of who decides that material should be on a blacklist.
And there's the heart of the matter. I'm sure most people have no problem with the concept of blocking illegal material. The problem is that there's no reliable way to do that. Add to that the potential for blocking technology to become a political tool and it's better to just leave the internet alone and go after the perps when they do something illegal.
SilverSurfer1
join:2007-08-19

1 edit

SilverSurfer1

Member

Re: Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

said by footballdude:

I'm sure most people have no problem with the concept of blocking illegal material.
Speak for yourself. And, exactly who gets to determine what is "legal" vs "illegal." Many users on this site alone still believe, quite erroneously, that everything available for download is illegal. Thanks, but as an adult, I don't need a nanny watching over my shoulder to protect me from myself. Maybe you enjoy that sort of thing, but personally, I do not.
dentman42
Premium Member
join:2001-10-02
Columbus, OH

dentman42 to footballdude

Premium Member

to footballdude
said by footballdude:

And there's the heart of the matter. I'm sure most people have no problem with the concept of blocking illegal material. The problem is that there's no reliable way to do that. Add to that the potential for blocking technology to become a political tool and it's better to just leave the internet alone and go after the perps when they do something illegal.
The term "illegal material" is already a political tool.

karlmarx
join:2006-09-18
Moscow, ID

2 recommendations

karlmarx to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
And who is to blame for these 'failed morals'? Aren't you the one who says 'greed is good'? If you follow your thought process to it's logical conclusion, well, then you are reaping what you have sown!

What is greed? Greed is the desire for something. How does capitalism work? Get the most amount of product for the least amount of money? Put the two together, and voila, you have a culture of piracy. Everyone gets what they want (greed) at the lost cost possible (free). If that's not the definition of piracy, I don't know what is.

So, your all your preaching has paid off! You have a generation of kids who think that GREED IS GOOD! Nice going there.
ender7074
join:2006-11-21
Saint Louis, MO

1 recommendation

ender7074

Member

Re: Filtering wouldn't be an issue except for content thieves

You're wrong there. We have a whole new crop of youths following Karl Marx's jealously plan now aka socialism/communism. Someone has something you want so take it. Its not greed, its jealously. We even have a presidential candidate whos preaching this line of garbage. Greed is keeping what you own. Thats not the problem. Theft is all about jealously and feeling that you have the right to take what you want from someone because you want it.

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

2 recommendations

swhx7 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

And why is the [entertainment industry] business model failing? Because there are too many people with no morals and think stealing a service is acceptable.

Not exactly. It's mainly because the cost of a digital copy is essentially zero, while the copyright-exploitation industry is based on keeping copies scarce.

Other factors include:

  • Excessive duration of copyright


  • Copyright holders keeping works off the market, despite demand, leaving piracy as the only way for the public to obtain copies of popular culture items.


  • Malware (DRM) in legal digital products.


  • Asking prices above the free-market prices, propped up by artificial-monopoly laws, which always produces a black market in any industry.


  • Increasing public awareness that a majority percentage of the price of a video, music recording or software goes to exploitive middle-men and only a small percentage to the creative people who create the cultural works.


GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
Premium Member
join:2001-10-29
Indianapolis, IN

1 recommendation

GlobalMind to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:
The entertainment industry, who wants ISPs and government to protect their failing business models.
And why is the business model failing? Because there are too many people with no morals and think stealing a service is acceptable.
Yep it has nothing to do with their reluctance or refusal to change with the times.

Piracy is only a piece of it TK, you should know better than to say otherwise.
Pv8man
join:2008-07-24
Hammond, IN

2 recommendations

Pv8man to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
Hey TK junk mail

aren't you one of those McCain/Palin supporters who are always calling all of Obama's policies Socialist???

isn't the government getting involved in this situation to protect the failing outdated business model of the RIAA/MPAA??

That is socialism, there fore if you support this, you are a hypocrite by your own definition.

Anonymously Here
@comcast.net

-1 recommendation

Anonymously Here to FFH5

Anon

to FFH5
Morals....HA HA HA HA HA
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

1 recommendation

Kearnstd to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
a copyright doesnt deserve respect after 25 years from it's creation. because that is how long a copyright should last. and dead people's material should never last 75 years after they die, a corpse doesnt need money and their estate should get a fscking job.

Augustus III
If Only Rome Could See Us Now....
join:2001-01-25
Gainesville, GA

1 recommendation

Augustus III to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

The entertainment industry, who wants ISPs and government to protect their failing business models.
And why is the business model failing? Because there are too many people with no morals and think stealing a service is acceptable.
Morals are the final frontier of fascism and communism.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

No Real Problems In Australia?

Are there really no other problems in Australia with which the government there has to deal?

If copyright owners are concerned about piracy, then they should use the court system to go after those who infringe on their works.
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD

1 recommendation

nasadude

Member

Re: No Real Problems In Australia?

said by pnh102:

...
If copyright owners are concerned about piracy, then they should use the court system to go after those who infringe on their works.
why spend money on lawyers when you can get the government to prop up the business model?

Isn't it better to control the front end of the process? It's just so messy going to court - you have to prove stuff and shit like that.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: No Real Problems In Australia?

said by nasadude:

why spend money on lawyers when you can get the government to prop up the business model?
I guess Australia isn't as infested with trial lawyers as we are.
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD

nasadude

Member

Re: No Real Problems In Australia?

smaller land mass = fewer lawyers?

or maybe lawyers don't like the outback.

thisisajoke
@comcast.net

thisisajoke to pnh102

Anon

to pnh102
This filter idea is a joke.

Prostitution is legal in Australia.
There is nudity on TV at night.
and they are trying to filter the internet?

Give me a break. Like they don't have enough other problems to solve, this should be the least of their worries mate!
dfc6
join:2008-06-23

1 edit

dfc6

Member

Ridiculous!!

I'm an Australian,
And I am disgusted that our constitutional rights to go where we wish and do what we wish will be infringed on..
What's next they will be telling us what to eat, sh*t and dream of??!!

Socialism... isn't it more like communism..

Isn't it the problem of who puts the stuff on the web not people viewing the stuff on the web, by the way music piracy has proven to increase sales, as the quality available on the web is 95% poor, and a lot of people try software before they purchase software, so it actually keeps the manufactures in line and improving their products.

I'd like to see Americans take this sort of filtering on the chin.

I set up a lot of content barriers for parents, and 9 out of 10 parents choose to in the end disable them and personally supervise the kids as it becomes ridiculous to do any research without constantly being blocked..

Hmmm lets stuff the WWWW the (Whole WorldWide Web) experience!

dfc
cornelius785
join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

cornelius785

Member

Re: Ridiculous!!

on the subject of parents and content filters, i think the parents should stand up and bring up their children so that they, the children, can 'police' themselves because they have been taught the difference between right and wrong, what should be avoided on the internet, and basic common sense rules of the internet. there is no subsitute for real parenting.

It also would be nice to ensure the politicians know this and that they are not the parents of all the children, and that if someone is infringing some scum entertainment company's copyright, it is that company's responsibility to press charges, not the government. it is no wonder why i am losing all confidence in the government to be for the people. time for a revolution anyone and bring america (or other countries since it sounds like atleast australia is facing a similar issue) back to what the founding fathers thought it should be?

bbrlogue
Learning New Things Daily
Premium Member
join:2003-12-07
Alexandria, VA

bbrlogue

Premium Member

Wikipedia?

So will they block wikipedia too then? There are graphics and other illustration that some may find objectionable (warning, image of a naked female in frontal position -- »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma ··· urbation).

davidl
join:2008-07-11
Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC

davidl

Member

Re: Wikipedia?

Wow...there's a thread-stopper
dentman42
Premium Member
join:2001-10-02
Columbus, OH

dentman42

Premium Member

Re: Wikipedia?

said by davidl:

Wow...there's a thread-stopper
ROFL!
You mean Wikipedia in general or the specific topic referenced?