Writing to you about something very unsexy. The move by Telstra & Optus to ban internet
The move by Telstra and Optus to voluntarily censor hundreds of internet sites which it deems unfit for us to view under the emotive pedophile argument is outrageous. It’s a story that has largely gone under the radar, and I’m not sure why. It is the biggest threat to civil liberties and free speech in this country we’ve ever experienced and we should be outraged. Within 2 weeks we’ll all be boiled frogs. Some of the sites banned include an anti-euthanasia site and other political sites unsavory to the Government. The service providers are voluntarily following the Government’s hugely unpopular recommended list which means half the country will have their legitimate adult content censored alongside other political sites; all to allegedly stop pedophiles who largely don’t operate out in the open anyway.
Here is a snippet of what ran in yesterday’s The Australian: MOST Australian internet users will have their web access censored next month after the country’s two largest internet providers agreed to voluntarily block more than 500 websites from view. Read also this Courier Mail newspaper’s commentator.
Who the are these two companies to dictate what I watch in the privacy of my bedroom? Change Servers!
Please Comment click little “comments” button above
this one is really important.
Google are already stopping searches whose wording offends their software. Change the way you word your search, and you’ll get what you want. Just for the hell of it, I searched for “little girl sex” to see what happened. The screen went white for a blink, and then I was back at the search page, with an empty search field. Fair enough considering the wording, but what else do they stop, delay, or revert without your control, I wonder?
I find it sad that this very true story of something that will, not might, eventually invade everyones lives is getting less attention than a “scare story” put out by animal rights groups whose stated intention is to ban live exports altogether at any cost, groups who are hardly objective and unbiased. Why aren’t more people outraged by this blatant censorship issue???
I totally agree that this is not on!! I was wondering is at the end of the day who will decide what is appropiate or not??!!! I can only imagine if extremist religious groups have a say in this….I agree with Ruth what someone chooses to watch or view in the privacy of their own home is their own business. If this occurs goodness only knows what else will become censored, the real dilemma with this if this goes through then it will only be the start of what Australians can & can not watch on the internet & that may then progress to tv, movies & heaven forbid books!!….we need to stand up for freedom of speech & for the civil liberties that we currently enjoy 🙂
Hey, what are you complaining about! We’re joining the exclusive club of world powers that have a government-mandated internet censorship system…those shining lights of freedom and democracy, Iran, China, and North Korea!!! I welcome the decision by our lords and masters in Canberra!
Seriously though, once something like this is in place, even for the best of reasons, you are then at the mercy of the government of the day in what they think is not “appropriate” content for people to view. it starts as porn, but then it is simply added to…what’s next? Opposing or uncomfortable political views? Satirical sits making fun of elected officials? Instead of fostering freedom and open communication, you are simply handing over your freedom to some faceless government department.
Do you have social media: post on Facebook, post on Twitter, go to the Optus or Telstra websites to the complaints or feedback pages and register your protests. Go to Newspaper blogsites and write your protests. Scream No from the rooftops. Change servers!
As Ruth’s partner I want to be the first to start this one off. Ruth and I are a regular couple who occasionally like to watch a bit of porn on the internet together. Ruth in her career also needs to keep an eye on sites here and abroad that deal with sexuality so as to keep ahead of social trends. Who dare tell us what we can or can’t do in the privacy of our own home? Who has the right to stand in the way of normal people in the name of cracking down on Pedophilia which is a police matter not a matter for Optus or Telstra. Wow! I hope you guys post comments. This one has made us very angry.
Ruth I never knew this was happening. How do we register our protests?