Australia's Internet Censorship Saga Continues

Web filter splits opposition
ARI SHARP
April 7, 2010
THE federal opposition is yet to formulate a position on the proposed internet filter despite Labor flagging its intention to introduce the measure before the last election.

The failure of Coalition leader Tony Abbott or his communications spokesman Tony Smith to indicate whether they would support the bill reflects divisions within the party about the government's plan to block access to internet sites banned under Australia's classification rules.

The Greens are opposed to the filter, giving the Liberals the crucial votes in the Senate that determine the success of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's plan, which has attracted criticism from Google, the United States and others in the internet industry.

Let me says this, if they go ahead, it will cost them dearly. Just look at the previous Liberal Government, they stubbornly pushed through work place reform laws, strongly opposed by the majority of people, and were routed in the Federal election. Even the Prime Minister lost his seat! Our present Labor Government will go the same way if they persist with this draconian censorship of the Internet. We have a Federal election later on this year so they better lift their game!

Then there are ''black hat'' hackers and ''hacktivists''. While hactivists hack as a form of social activism, black hatters will hack for personal amusement and are often downright malicious. They tend to be smart, savvy and ruthless. You do not want them as your enemy.

Right now, many black hatters are planning attacks on the proposed internet filter and its accompanying blacklist. I recently (and anonymously) spoke to one such black hatter who said the plan was not to leak the blacklist (yet again), but to highjack it. Imagine the havoc one could wreak if one could start adding innocuous websites to the blacklist - even just temporarily.

The first website to be added, of course, would be Senator Conroy's site, followed by The Australian Christian Lobby's site, and those of other groups in favour of the filter. Imagine the embarrassment and the public relations nightmare that would cause Conroy's people.