[LINK] ISPs clustered for filtering trials

[rene]

On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:13:39 +1100, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:

> ISPs clustered for filtering trials
> Fran Foo
> January 28, 2009
> The Australian IT
> http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24975071-
> 15306,00.html update
[...]
> Communications Minister Stephen Conroy hopes to introduce two forms of
> content filtering: a mandatory scheme based on a blacklist of illegal
> web pages, and an optional "clean feed" of links that would
> automatically block certain types of content, such as adult material.

In fact the blacklist is not of "illegal" material. It is of material that 
the ACMA reckons would be "prohibited content" if the Classification Board 
classified it and 'prohibited' does not mean illegal.  'Prohibited content' 
as defined in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 includes content in the 
following categories: MA15+, R18+, X18+, RC.

[...]
> According to ACMA, 864 web pages relate to content falling under the RC
> classification, including 674 pages containing child sexual abuse
> content.

Conroy did not say "child sexual abuse content". His answers to Senator 
Ludlam's questions on notice said the 674 URLs are content that the ACMA 
considers would be classified as meeting part (b) of the RC definition 
which says "(b) describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence 
to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 
(whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not)".

Journalist Fran Foo completely fails to mention that Conroy said the 
blacklist also contains 441 URLs X18+ and 65 URLs R18+ (ACMA was not 
empowered to add R18+ or MA15+ to its blacklist prior to 20 Jan 2008).

[...]

> Note: This story has been updated since first published. Actual sexual
> activity between consenting adults falls under X18+ classification of
> the films table of the National Classification  Code and not RC
> classification.

Well, at least they fixed one error since first publication of the  
article.

Irene