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Mandatory Internet censorship in Australia - no thanks :(

Submitted by alexessory on

Someone has already posted a link to this in another thread, but I think it's worth repeating... as you may know, the Australian government is proposing mandatory Internet filtering at the ISP level that would affect all Internet access in Australia. Some people are comparing it to The Great Chinese Firewall, and to the content filtering in Iran. You can read more about exactly what is planned here:

I've been feeling very uneasy about this but wasn't really sure what to do about it. Seems like things are picking up now though, and people are starting to express their concerns, with some momentum building. If you think the filter is a bad idea, here's how you can (easily) join the protest:

  • Go to GetUp and sign the petition and/or make a donation (they have raised $30k in a day already, which they will use to put ads on major sites to raise awareness of the issue - more money raised = a wider campaign = more momentum)
  • Join the Facebook group
  • Take part in the protests
  • Email your friends and post on any forums you frequent (or lurk at, ahem)
  • Other ways you can think of, that you might want to add below :D
Submitted by alexessory on Fri, 05/12/08 - 2:05 PMPermalink

Oops, forgot to include the details of the protest events:



Melbourne Protest
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Outside the State Library, corner of Swanston St and La Trobe St.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46838735931



Brisbane Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Brisbane Square
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=42526399601



Sydney Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Town Hall Square, George Street
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49916537640



Adelaide Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Parliament House
Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39343300875



Hobart Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Parliament Lawns
Time: 11:00am - 1:30pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39329861995



Perth Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Stirling Gardens
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=45738419714

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/12/08 - 3:49 PMPermalink

I'll be at the protest and I hope anyone who doesn't want to submit to government control will too.

Don't think you can opt-out of this. The 2nd filter will still be there slowing everything down just as much. Still filtering legal but "unwanted content" and returning false positives.

Stop the book burning.

Any parent who supports government intervention into their own home is admitting their ineptitude as a parent.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/12/08 - 4:47 PMPermalink

Thanks for the info and heads-up. I think this is an even bigger issue than that R rating we're all so dearly fighting for.

I'm not the marching/chanting/protesting type, but I'm definitely going to this one, if only to add one more body to the crowd. Tell your friends!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/12/08 - 12:18 PMPermalink

Why isn't there a protest in Canberra?

Or is everyone a legit porn buyer here, so they don't use the internet?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/12/08 - 1:13 PMPermalink

porn on the internet is often legit...

it's just people normally get by on the free samples :P

still rather odd that there is no protest in canberra though. lets all go sit on top of parliament house.

Someone has already posted a link to this in another thread, but I think it's worth repeating... as you may know, the Australian government is proposing mandatory Internet filtering at the ISP level that would affect all Internet access in Australia. Some people are comparing it to The Great Chinese Firewall, and to the content filtering in Iran. You can read more about exactly what is planned here:

I've been feeling very uneasy about this but wasn't really sure what to do about it. Seems like things are picking up now though, and people are starting to express their concerns, with some momentum building. If you think the filter is a bad idea, here's how you can (easily) join the protest:

  • Go to GetUp and sign the petition and/or make a donation (they have raised $30k in a day already, which they will use to put ads on major sites to raise awareness of the issue - more money raised = a wider campaign = more momentum)
  • Join the Facebook group
  • Take part in the protests
  • Email your friends and post on any forums you frequent (or lurk at, ahem)
  • Other ways you can think of, that you might want to add below :D

Submitted by alexessory on Fri, 05/12/08 - 2:05 PMPermalink

Oops, forgot to include the details of the protest events:



Melbourne Protest
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Outside the State Library, corner of Swanston St and La Trobe St.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46838735931



Brisbane Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Brisbane Square
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=42526399601



Sydney Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Town Hall Square, George Street
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49916537640



Adelaide Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Parliament House
Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39343300875



Hobart Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Parliament Lawns
Time: 11:00am - 1:30pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39329861995



Perth Protest:
Date: Saturday 13th of December
Location: Stirling Gardens
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=45738419714

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/12/08 - 3:49 PMPermalink

I'll be at the protest and I hope anyone who doesn't want to submit to government control will too.

Don't think you can opt-out of this. The 2nd filter will still be there slowing everything down just as much. Still filtering legal but "unwanted content" and returning false positives.

Stop the book burning.

Any parent who supports government intervention into their own home is admitting their ineptitude as a parent.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/12/08 - 4:47 PMPermalink

Thanks for the info and heads-up. I think this is an even bigger issue than that R rating we're all so dearly fighting for.

I'm not the marching/chanting/protesting type, but I'm definitely going to this one, if only to add one more body to the crowd. Tell your friends!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/12/08 - 12:18 PMPermalink

Why isn't there a protest in Canberra?

Or is everyone a legit porn buyer here, so they don't use the internet?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/12/08 - 1:13 PMPermalink

porn on the internet is often legit...

it's just people normally get by on the free samples :P

still rather odd that there is no protest in canberra though. lets all go sit on top of parliament house.