[LINK] Law proposed against uploading violent images

[Tom Koltai]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au 
> [mailto:link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Kim Holburn
> Sent: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 7:06 PM
> To: Link list
> Subject: [LINK] Law proposed against uploading violent images
> 
> 
> http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/law-propos
> ed-against-uploading-violent--images-on-the-internet-20110316-
> 1bwye.html
> 
> > Law proposed against uploading violent images on the internet
> > 
> > March 16, 2011 - 3:26PM
> > The South Australian government wants to make it an offence to post 
> > violent or other degrading images on the internet.
> > 
> > Attorney-General John Rau said the state's proposed 
> legislation, to be 
> > introduced this year, would be the first of its kind in Australia.
> > 
<SNIP>

I'm not sure about that...

Whilst this would appear to be an attempt to stop cyber bullying via
Youtube, similar "image control" 
Legislation has been attempted in the past... Sort-of:

Quote/
Harradine Vote Passes Flawed' Internet Control

The Age
Thursday May 27, 1999

ADRIAN ROLLINS

The Federal Government's attempt to eliminate or control sexually
explicit and illegal material on the Internet has won plaudits from key
independent Senator Brian Harradine but has put the burgeoning industry
off-side.

The legislation, aimed at removing pornographic images and illegal
material such as bomb-making instructions from the Internet, was
narrowly passed by the Senate yesterday with the support of Senator
Harradine and fellow independent Senator Mal Colston.

Senator Harradine's support was seen as giving a political boost to the
Government. It came just hours before moves to sell more of Telstra
began.

The Government is believed to have given up on its intention to sell the
rest of Telstra but hopes to win Senator Harradine's crucial support for
the sale of a further 16.6 per cent of the carrier, which would raise up
to $18billion.

Senator Harradine said although the Internet legislation was flawed the
Government was to be congratulated for tackling the issue.

But doubts were raised about how effective the Internet regulation bill
would be, particularly as service providers have threatened to defy the
new laws.

Under the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Bill, the
public will be able to lodge complaints about offensive material with
the Australian Broadcasting Authority, which will have the power to
direct Internet service providers to remove it or face hefty criminal
penalties.

The Communications Minister, Senator Richard Alston, said the measure
would help protect Australians, particularly children, from illegal or
offensive material ``without placing an undue burden on the Internet
industry".

Senator Alston admitted the legislation alone could not provide full
protection, but said it was workable and would complement other measures
such as end-user filters and industry codes of practice.

But the industry warned that large numbers of service providers objected
to the legislation and were threatening to defy it.

The Australian Internet Industry Association's executive director, Mr
Peter Coroneos, said his organisation was ``not delighted" with the
measure. He said the Government had put about three-quarters of the
industry off-side by introducing it.

Mr Coroneos said the bill had undermined the goodwill that had built up
between his organisation and service providers, which had been
instrumental in establishing an industry code of practice.

He said his organisation would work with service providers to ``make the
best of the new laws", but doubted their effectiveness in removing
illegal and pornographic material from the Internet.

Both Labor and the Australian Democrats voted against the legislation,
saying it was ineffective and inappropriate. 
/Quote