[LINK] Govt defends censorship, responds to the report

[Jan Whitaker]

[had to get this from SMH because the link on the Age was broken. But 
then it didn't render correctly there either. Appears the technos are on hols.]


Government defends internet censorship technology

December 24, 2008 - 12:25PM

The federal government has distanced itself from a report that found 
internet censorship technology under consideration is seriously flawed.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the Internet Industry 
Association (IIA) report was commissioned and paid for by the former 
Howard government.

It was "not an analysis of the ALP's policy", he said.

The report concluded schemes to block inappropriate content - such as 
child pornography - could slow the internet and result in over- and 
under-blocking of material.

Senator Conroy denied Labor was trialling the technology in spite of 
the report's negative findings.

"The government is aware of technical concerns raised in the report, 
and that is why we are conducting a pilot, to put these claims to the 
test," Senator Conroy said in a statement.

"The live pilot trial will provide evidence on the real world impacts 
of content filtering, including for providers and internet users.
[except they aren't using live users, right? Does this man know 
anything about what is being done?]

"It will provide an invaluable opportunity for internet service 
providers to inform the government's approach."

The trial is due to begin in mid-January.

Senator Conroy said the IIA report simply involved reviewing existing 
literature and interviews and surveys.

"It involved no empirical testing of filtering technology."

The federal opposition says the Rudd government is finding it 
increasingly difficult to make good on its promise of an internet 
content filter.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy yesterday released a statement 
distancing himself from a report released by the Internet Industry 
Association (IIA) that was commissioned and paid for by the former 
Howard government.

The report's findings was "not an analysis of the ALP's policy" and 
the government's pilot trial beginning in mid-January would provide 
"real world" evidence on the impact of content filtering, Senator Conroy said.

Meanwhile, Opposition communications spokesman Nick Minchin said 
today that the filter was a repeat of the bungled handling of the 
national broadband network.

"Prior to the election, the now government, in opposition, made these 
broad-sweeping promises... to eliminate child pornography from the 
internet with this filter system," Senator Minchin told ABC radio.

"Now they've got to make good on their promise and they're finding it 
much more difficult in government of course than in opposition."

The report does identify serious issues with any attempt to impose a 
mandatory internet service provider filtering system that simply may 
not work, he said.

"It's almost technically impossible to do this."
[Then why did MINCHIN's govt try the exact same thing when Senator 
Dick was running Communications?]

Senator Minchin said he didn't object to the trial proceeding, but 
questions remained about who would be involved, whether it would 
involve "live" customers, and whether they will know they're involved 
in the trial or not.

"All I'd say is the burden of proof rests now very much with Senator 
Conroy to establish that this is a legitimate trial," he said.



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
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