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

[Daniel Rose]

Adam Todd wrote:
> At 11:24 PM 24/12/2007, Kim Holburn wrote:
>>> Australia to enforce a "ratings system" on web, track users
>>> 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.
> 
> I have been saying this since 1994.
> 
> Little Johnny doesn't need to "borrow" mums credit card.
> 
> Mum has probably made Little Johnny a Secondary Card Holder anyway - and
> Secondary card holders (which are as plentiful in Aus as kids with
> mobile phones) can be as young as 16.

Can you back your claim with numbers? I've never met or heard of a child who's a secondary card holder.

> 
> There is NO age verification mechanism when it comes to checking a valid
> credit card number or processing a transaction.

Correct.  A CC is not proof of age.  However, perhaps they are not so much trying to prove age as to prove identity, thus they are able to back-trace the scenario later if needed.

> So the entire system is a fraud, perpetrated by the Government to make
> people think it's "safe, secure and wonderful" when really it's nothing
> more than a con.

Are you talking here about the new classification system, or society in general? :P

> 
> The Internet is as "safe" a playground as the local park.  If you let
> your 13 year old go to the local park, expect them to come across used
> condoms, syringes, drugs, pills, bongs, old men looking for sex, 14 year
> olds passing and fingering each other ....

Expect them? In every park in the country, there are all these things? I don't think so Adam.  You can't just make stuff up like this.

> 
> If you want a safe place for your under 15's then supervise them.
> 
Agreed, of course.


-- 
Daniel Rose
National Library of Australia