Censorship
2007-12-31 18:15![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flexibeastAs i feared, it seems that the new Federal ALP government is going to try to implement mandatory filtering of certain Web content, including X-rated material (see also: the News Limited story, which includes comments from Dale Clapperton of EFA) - and it's not opt-in, it's opt-out. Which will create a situation where the government has access to lists of those of us wishing to access X-rated material. Charming. :-/
Of course, the technical issues in implementing such mandatory filtering are substantial. But i object to the very fact that the government is trying to implement this. Once governments obtain certain powers, they are unlikely to give them up without massive campaigns forcing them to do so; and they continually seek to expand the areas in which those powers are applicable. What other content are they going to decide requires mandatory filtering? Discussions of BDSM? Pictures of breasts, genitals etc. on health sites? This blog, since it contains sexually explicit content?
It's rather worrying.
Of course, the technical issues in implementing such mandatory filtering are substantial. But i object to the very fact that the government is trying to implement this. Once governments obtain certain powers, they are unlikely to give them up without massive campaigns forcing them to do so; and they continually seek to expand the areas in which those powers are applicable. What other content are they going to decide requires mandatory filtering? Discussions of BDSM? Pictures of breasts, genitals etc. on health sites? This blog, since it contains sexually explicit content?
It's rather worrying.
