News

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 00:40

The Australian government's plan to censor the Internet regarding certain areas such as online gambling websites has now attracted criticism from the US Ambassador.

While the United States and Australia are far away from each other physically, they have become embroiled in an intensifying argument over the Australian government's proposals for censoring the Internet in such areas that they consider the public should be protected from, and that includes gambling websites. Into the fray has jumped Jeff Bleich, United States Ambassador to Australia who has voiced his opposition to the plan in a number of leading Australian newspapers.

The attempts at censorship, which will involve ISPs putting blocks on a blacklist supplied by a communications agency for the Australian government, have raised hackles in the United States government. The number of groups who oppose this scheme is growing and includes Senator Nick Xenophon, Google, Yahoo, Reporters Without Borders, Save The Children, The Greens and Joe Hockey, the Australian shadow treasurer.

Several major Australian newspapers reported that Bleich has criticised the government's proposals to filter the Internet, saying that it is possible to achieve the same goals without this sort of censorship. In an ABC interview, Bleich said that the United States has accomplished the same goals that are being attempted in Australia and that they have other methods to combat unwanted Internet content. He added that they are more than willing to share their efforts with the Australian government because the Internet should remain free. He said that it needs to remain free in the same way the skies must remain free, as outer space must be free, as the polar caps must be free, as the oceans must be free. It's because they are all resources that are shared by all the people all over the world.

GetUp are an online activist group who's Chief Executive, Simon Sheikh supports Bleich’s comments. He has called on Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister to bring an end to this farce. He said that more than 120,000 Australians have already joined GetUp's important campaign against the proposed Internet filter. Polls show that a massive 86 percent of Australians have concerns about the proposed plans for the Internet filter.

Queensland Senator Sue Boyce is also demanding that the government must be more forthcoming over the content of current talks on the issue with the US. However Stephen Conroy, the Communication Minister is still committed to the Internet filtering plan. He defends the plan as being a modest measure, reflecting community standards concerning the sort of content that civilised society find unacceptable.