[LINK] Internet filtering plan may extend to peer-to-peer traffic, says Stephen Conroy

[Kim Holburn]

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,24833959-5014239,00.html

>  THE Federal Government's controversial internet censorship scheme  
> may extend to filter more online traffic than was first thought,  
> Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy revealed today.
>
> In a post on his department's blog, Senator Conroy today said  
> technology that could filter data sent directly between computers  
> would be tested as part of the upcoming live filtering trial.
>
> "Technology that filters peer-to-peer and BitTorrent traffic does  
> exist and it is anticipated that the effectiveness of this will be  
> tested in the live pilot trial," Senator Conroy said.
>
> Peer-to-peer file-sharing technology is the most common way for  
> computer users to share video, picture and music files over the  
> internet.
>
> It was previously thought the Government's filtering plan would be  
> restricted to traffic on the "world wide web" – the channel through  
> which users view websites like news.com.au.

> "I'm aware that this proposal has attracted significant debate and  
> criticism – on this blog and at other places in the blogosphere,"  
> Senator Conroy said.
>
> "I'm following the debate at sites like Whirlpool and GetUp and on  
> Twitter at #nocleanfeed."
>
> The filtering scheme has made headlines around the world in the The  
> New York Times and British newspapers and was the target of protests  
> held in major cities across the country earlier this month.

> Despite announcing the live pilot trial would likely include  
> filtering peer-to-peer traffic, Senator Conroy rejected accusations  
> that the scheme was similar to internet censorship in countries such  
> as China.
>
> "Freedom of speech is fundamentally important in a democratic  
> society and there was never any suggestion that the Australian  
> Government would seek to block political content," Senator Conroy  
> said.
>
> "In this context, claims that the Government's policy is analogous  
> to the approach taken by countries such as Iran, China and Saudi  
> Arabia are not justified."
>
> Senator Conroy said the internet filter would be in-step with  
> existing methods to censor books, films and video games.


-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3494957443
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
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