Australia to enforce a "ratings system" on web, track users (was Re: [LINK] Has anyone seen this...)

[Craig Sanders]

On Mon, Dec 24, 2007 at 01:24:35PM +0100, Kim Holburn wrote:
>> One reader who contacted Ars lamented the fact that adults will have to 
>> give up a little privacy to be in compliance, too. Users will prove their 
>> age by supplying their full names and either a credit card or digital 
>> signature approved for online use. Content publishers are even required by 
>> law to keep records of who accessed R18+ content and with what credentials 
>> for a period of two years. Of course, such systems are also susceptible to 
>> gaming. Little Jimmy only needs to find a willing adult, or barring that, 
>> momma's credit card to get online. Identity fraud with a credit card isn't 
>> exactly rocket science.

this will also make identity fraud a lot easier too, as now there will
be numerous web sites which are required by law to store people's credit
card numbers for two years (if they used a CC to "prove" their
identity).

it has been best practice for years now to NOT store credit card numbers
at all - there have been several instances where hundreds or thousands
of CC numbers have been stolen by breaking into the system.



the russian mafia and other organised credit-card scammers owe a debt of
gratitude to the Howard govt for their stupid attempt to buy votes by
catering to ignorant morons demanding 'think of the children, something
must be done!'.

unfortunately, i can't see the new Rudd govt doing anything to undo
the damage - it would be too easy for the opposition and single-issue
nutcases with no sense of perspective to paint them as being supporters
of child-pornography.

craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas at taz.net.au>

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