Today it was announced that the Australian Government would push ahead with plans to censor the internet in Australia. In an announcement that shocked many internet users around the country “the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, said today he would introduce legislation just before next year’s elections to force ISPs to block a blacklist of “refused classification” (RC) websites for all Australian internet users.” (Source)

Within hours of the announcement the Christian Lobby within Australia has  called for the expansion of the so called Clean Feed “This is now clearly feasible and we need a review in three years that might test this in practice, particularly using third party providers of URLs,” Wallace said. (Source)

Update: 16/12/2009 1:29pm

“This is clearly the first step down a slippery slope that starts with a good, if misguided, intent of blocking child pornography and quickly spreads to blocking information based on morality (R18+ games, legal pornography, pro-euthanasia and anti-abortion sites) and eventually some government comes along and quietly stops anyone with opposing views from voicing them,” Crafti – The Pirate Party

Google Australias Official Responce

Update:

The Federal Government today announced it will introduce amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act, which will by 2011 require all ISPs to block refused classification-rated material hosted on overseas servers. (Source)

Discussion’s regarding the announcement have sprung up all over the internet:

Twitter

ITNews.com.au

SMH.com.au

Whirlpool

http://nocleanfeed.com/

We would like to state emphatically that we are against Child Pornography and such depravity. But this censorship is flawed, open to abuse and does not address the issues that it sets out to achieve.

We call on each of you to defend your votes. Question the govenment on this flawed plan and should you support not having it we call you to stand with your fellow citizens and convey to your elected offials your dislike for this plan.

As more information comes out and discussion and industry reaction appears we will bring you more information. In the meantime we encourage you all to learn about this plan and the arguments for and against it and make an informed decision.

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