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

[Richard Chirgwin]

And while we're on the topic...
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/web/fatal-flaws-in-web-censorship-plan/2008/12/22/1229794328860.html

> TRIALS of mandatory internet censorship will begin within days despite
> a secret high-level report to the Rudd Government that found the
> technology simply does not work, will significantly slow internet
> speeds and will block access to legitimate websites.
>
> The report, commissioned by the Howard government and prepared by the
> Internet Industry Association, concluded that schemes to block
> inappropriate content such as child pornography are fundamentally flawed.
>
etc...

RC

Kim Holburn wrote:
> 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.
>>     
>
>
>