[LINK] ISP-level site-blocking of 'dangerous material'

[Roger Clarke]

[What would you reckon are the chances that AGD and the spook agencies 
have used this current 'idea in good standing' / kneejerk to slide in a 
few features that they'll be able to use for purposes other than 
“extreme violent content” in relation to  “crisis events”?]


Govt agrees to ISP-level site-blocking of 'dangerous material'
To create 24/7 centre to monitor 'online crisis events'.
Ry Crozier
itNews
Aug 26 2019
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/govt-agrees-to-isp-level-site-blocking-of-dangerous-material-530104

The government has agreed to formalise arrangements put in place 
following the Christchurch terror attack that saw access to online 
material associated with the incident blocked within Australia.

A taskforce comprising digital platform owners and major telcos asked 
the government last month for formal powers to block websites hosting 
“extreme violent content” in relation to  “crisis events”.

Telcos blocked websites following the Christchurch attack using somewhat 
vague existing powers but asked for more specific rules to rely upon in 
future.

The government said Sunday that it would “establish a clear and 
unambiguous content blocking framework for crisis events.”

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a statement that the 
industry’s cooperation around the Christchurch attack in seeking to 
limit Australians in being able to access online material associated 
with the attack constituted “a responsible move ... that prioritised the 
safety of Australians online.”

“It is important that the government gives the industry the backing it 
needs for this type of action, now and into the future,” he said.

Fletcher made a specific distinction in the material being targeted and 
sought to separate the government’s action from attempts a decade ago by 
the then-Labor government to introduce site-blocking powers.

“The eSafety Commissioner will make ... independent determinations on a 
case by case basis to keep Australians safe online while upholding 
important internet freedoms,” Fletcher said.

The Government would also update its crisis management framework to 
include a “24/7 Crisis Coordination Centre to monitor and notify 
relevant government agencies of online crisis events involving terrorist 
and extreme violent material”.

This real-time monitoring facility would essentially provide the eSafety 
Commissioner and other agencies “with information to undertake rapid 
assessments.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the idea was to “better equip 
our agencies to rapidly detect and shut down the sharing of dangerous 
material online, even as a crisis may still be unfolding.”

The government said it could still legislate in the event that digital 
platforms did not do enough generally “to improve the safety of their 
services, and address the gaps laid bare by the Christchurch terrorist 
attacks.”

The shadow assistant minister for communications and cybersecurity, 
Labor MP Tim Watts, characterised the blocking announcement as measures 
aimed only at curbing "live streaming" of crisis events.

He suggested a deeper level of action was required to target the root 
cause of extremism online.

"What’s the government doing to address the Christchurch Call’s 
commitment to tackle social media algorithms that drive marginalised 
people to violent extremist narratives?" he tweeted.

-- 
Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA 

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University