[LINK] Australia must regulate child sex content online say ANU researchers

Tom Worthington tom.worthington at tomw.net.au
Tue Jun 8 10:13:43 AEST 2021


On 8/6/21 7:59 am, ANU Media wrote:

> Child sexual abuse content has flourished unabated on Australia’s 
> Cocos Keeling Islands’ top-level internet domain and must be 
> stopped, according to experts.
> 
> Writing in Policy Forum 
> <https://anu.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=73b3c4bf45063d7aa04d62036&id=5ab573a33f&e=fa573f8177>, 
> researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) argued 
> the Cocos Islands’ top level domain, .cc, is rife with child sexual 
> abuse material and they are calling for the government to regulate or 
> reclaim the domain under .au.
> 
> "The Internet Watch Foundation ranked .cc as the 10-most abused top 
> level domain for hosting child sexual abuse material in 2019 and it's 
> not the first time it's been in the top 10," ANU PhD researcher 
> Samuel Bashfield said.
> 
> "Australia should not let the misuse of .cc stand, and it should hold 
> the domain and its other territory domains to the same high standards as 
> .au.”
> 
> In the early 90s top level domains such as .au and .uk were created for 
> each country and dependent territory.
> 
> In Australia, top level domains were created for its territories – .cx 
> for Christmas Island, .hm for the Heard and McDonald Islands, .nf for 
> Norfolk Island, and .cc for Cocos Islands.
> 
> Several of these domains have not been regulated by the Australian 
> government and are controlled by private interests. Experts 
> say the commercial control is the underlying reason the government 
> doesn't see it as a responsibility.
> 
> "Australia must hold .cc and its other territory top level domains to 
> the same high standards as .au," ANU Lecturer James Mortensen said.
> 
> "Anyone can buy a .cc address, often for a much lower price than other 
> domains.
> 
> "The lack of government oversight has likely contributed to a focus on 
> making the domain profitable, rather than accountable.
> 
> "As the government responsible for the Cocos Islands, the Australian 
> Government must take control of the .cc domain and ensure it is no 
> longer a haven for child sexual abuse material."
> 
> The researchers say the Department of Infrastructure, the Australian 
> Communications and Media Authority and the Department of Home Affairs 
> could help intervene.
> 
> "Australia territory domains need increased regulation of the disparate 
> domain administrators, or even formal redelegation of these domains to 
> .au," Mr Bashfield said.
> 
> "By removing platforms for this material, the Australian Government will 
> be doing its part to limit the reach of abusive content."
> 
> Dr Mortensen said that .cc's current arrangement has allowed criminal 
> activity to flourish, calling Australia’s commitment to fighting child 
> exploitation into question and "damaging the reputation of the Cocos 
> Islands".
> 
> "Australia’s Cocos Keeling Islands do not need to be synonymous with 
> child sexual abuse and scams," he said. ...

-- 
Tom Worthington, MEd FHEA FACS CP IP3P http://www.tomw.net.au 
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Honorary Lecturer, Computer Science, Australian National University 
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