Mr eel

Australia - The Nanny State

Australians do not have freedom of speech sadly. It’s not enshrined in the constitution. It’s what allows disgusting entities like the OFLC to exist. It also gives Our Great Leaders, lots of wiggle room when it comes to censorship.

The Government — poor idealistic fools that they are — have decided to follow through the the previous government’s plans for Mandatory ISP filtering. Basically they want ISPs to install filters to block all that nasty pornography. Magically. It’s to protect the children of course. Which it won’t. It can’t. These filters are all commercial and famously easy to subvert. Even when they work correctly, they still fail to block undesirable material.

The Government and family groups both — groups who claim to represent all Australian families, without any mandate to do so, stupid idiots that they are — are forgetting that the best protection a child has is their parents.

Anyhow, I got so annoyed, I decided to send of a letter to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. I’m getting good at the Complaint Letter. I’m gonna make and awesome cranky old man.

Anyhow, here it is. It also includes a link to an article detailing the proposal, if you want a little background.

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Dear Minister,

I’m writing to you to express my concerns over the proposed mandatory ISP filtering as reported here: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22989956-15306,00.html

Firstly, let me preface my statements here by saying very clearly that I absolutely disagree with the measures put forth. I consider them an abrogation of my rights — censorship pure and simple. They are also likely to be expensive and ultimately ineffective.

As an adult citizen I consider it my right to access the internet — or any other media for that matter — freely, without interference from the government or any private body. Beyond illegal activities it is no concern of the government what I choose to access.

I am aware that I can opt out of these measures, but I see no reason why I should be burdened with this. I also have serious questions about how this will be implemented. If I choose to opt out, where is this information stored? How will it be used? Who has access to it? Essentially it is a threat to my privacy.

Ultimately, responsibility for monitoring a child’s internet access lies with their guardians. I do not accept any argument for adult citizens bearing the burden of these measures. Bluntly, parents have responsibility for their children. The idea that wider society should suffer because of nebulous claims about a need to ‘protect’ children is ridiculous. A sane society protects the vulnerable among us, but it doesn’t do that by threatening freedom and privacy.

In then end I think these measures will turn out to be quixotic. The government cannot magically create a technological solution to what is a social problem. The answer I think, lies in education. Both children and parents need to be aware of the potential dangers of using the internet. With the right information parents can be left to decide what is right for their children and adults can decide what is right for themselves.

The government does not need, nor have the right to be be involved in those choices.

Yours Sincerely,
Luke Matthew Sutton

Posted on January 2nd, 2008 | There are 1 comment

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