Australian internet censorship in operation!
Apr 15th 2004, 9:59 am
#1
Melbourne, St Kilda
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: St Kilda Melbourne
Posts: 115
Australian internet censorship in operation!
Hi there!
Whilst surfing the internet here in Melbourne I have notice a few of my regular sites back home will not work - there is just a blank screen with a error message. I did some research and it appears there has been some internet sites banned for the whole of Australia. I am all for banning some extreme or sites in bad taste, but the ones which I can not connect to include sites which let you unlock the multi region on your new DVD player, mp3 audio site and some sites which give out serial numbers to Microsoft and other software to save yourself a bit of money (Microsoft is filthy rich already!). Apparently a newsgroup which discuss, you've guess it: news, was banned for talking about an Aussie MP who was caught spanking his mistress...! This worries me slightly, as we don't want to end up like China and have widespread censorship in place, banning sites like CNN.com
http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/cens1.html
http://danny.oz.au/freedom/bsa/
Whilst surfing the internet here in Melbourne I have notice a few of my regular sites back home will not work - there is just a blank screen with a error message. I did some research and it appears there has been some internet sites banned for the whole of Australia. I am all for banning some extreme or sites in bad taste, but the ones which I can not connect to include sites which let you unlock the multi region on your new DVD player, mp3 audio site and some sites which give out serial numbers to Microsoft and other software to save yourself a bit of money (Microsoft is filthy rich already!). Apparently a newsgroup which discuss, you've guess it: news, was banned for talking about an Aussie MP who was caught spanking his mistress...! This worries me slightly, as we don't want to end up like China and have widespread censorship in place, banning sites like CNN.com
http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/cens1.html
http://danny.oz.au/freedom/bsa/
Last edited by joninoxford; Apr 15th 2004 at 10:11 am.
Apr 15th 2004, 10:30 am
#2
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,810
Weird! First I've heard of that - have any of you IT gurus come across this??
Apr 15th 2004, 11:58 am
#3
What's happening dudes?
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 20,647
Originally posted by Pollyana
Weird! First I've heard of that - have any of you IT gurus come across this??
Weird! First I've heard of that - have any of you IT gurus come across this??
Apr 15th 2004, 11:59 am
#4
She's a bird, you know
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 7,655
Just as long as the don't start blocking this website!
Apr 15th 2004, 12:03 pm
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Down the road, that's where I'll always be
Posts: 467
Apr 15th 2004, 12:03 pm
#6
What's happening dudes?
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 20,647
Originally posted by wmoore
I did see a headline on The Age in the IT section relating to censorship in TAS but didn't read the actual article. Try searching the archives on that site.
I did see a headline on The Age in the IT section relating to censorship in TAS but didn't read the actual article. Try searching the archives on that site.
http://australianit.news.com.au/arti...^^nbv^,00.html
Apr 15th 2004, 7:16 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 77
Getting back to Jon's original post, you might be interested in the history of this sad situation. A few years ago an independent senator from Tazzie name Brian Harradine held the balance of power in the Senate. He's a right-to-lifer and anti-porn campaigner and Howard did a deal with him to get his backing for the GST - hence this censorship. Originally it was supposed to block any illegal pornography from being transmitted by Aussie IRP's but it looks like it has taken a more sinister turn and is being used to block anything the government doesn't like. Very worrying.
Apr 15th 2004, 7:23 pm
#8
Banned
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,613
I don't believe it. Please post 5 sites you can't access in Australia, I'll cut & paste the home page (I'm in Europe) and let's see if a couple of independents confirm what you say.
Apr 15th 2004, 7:27 pm
#9
part-time Visa Angel!
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: half marathon runner!
Posts: 4,458
Originally posted by pleasancefamily
I don't believe it. Please post 5 sites you can't access in Australia, I'll cut & paste the home page (I'm in Europe) and let's see if a couple of independents confirm what you say.
I don't believe it. Please post 5 sites you can't access in Australia, I'll cut & paste the home page (I'm in Europe) and let's see if a couple of independents confirm what you say.
This doesnt surprise (though is strange I admit). I work for a well known high street bank (
) and we are not able to offer online banking to all our offshore customers, as some countries do block certain sites.
