If you haven’t already, you should have a read of this story on the PopSci front page. It tells the fantastical, yet true, tale of how there are seven global cyber-guardians who are in possession of keys that can restart the internet (seriously, go read it, it’s fascinating). At first, I had to check the date; ensuring that I wasn’t being suckered in by some ill-timed April Fool’s Day ruse. But the more I read the more it made sense.
And then I got to the part of the article that described the nations of the key holders: “Britain, the U.S., Burkina Faso, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, China, and the Czech Republic.” Initially, I was horrified. Where was the friendly Australian representation amid this fellowship of cyber guardians? Surely, a key holder from Australia makes perfect sense as a representative of the Australasian region. I started formulating a scathing blog post complete with chest beating, a call to action and the implied sound of a motivating symphony playing in ever readers’ ears. But then it dawned on me as to why we weren’t worthy.
The proposed internet content filter that Senator Conroy has been championing.
Sure, it may have taken a wee bit of a backseat of late, but when one is trying to think of the best representatives for the fellowship of the internet, Australia doesn’t exactly spring to mind as a viable choice because of the content filter. Besides, the proposed internet content filter has led to comparisons being made between Australia’s stance on the provision of internet and China’s. While this is hardly the most glowing of comparisons on such a topic, they already have a Chinese representative in the cyber-guardian crew, so why throw in a pseudo-China?
In case it’s not abundantly clear at this point, I’m fiercely opposed to the notion of an internet content filter in Australia. But what do you all think?
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Most of us would be fairly strongly opposed to this stupid internet content-filter… at least I hope so. My expectations of people seem to be constantly disappointed in this respect.
It does make sense that Australia is not a part of this Cyber-Guardian Committee though… I mean come on, we’re not even allowed to have R18+ games… imagine if Australia had the power to shut down the internet. I have a sudden urge to watch as many YouTube videos as possible…
In my various discussions about the internet content filter, I’ve yet to meet anyone who is for it. I’m not saying they’re not out there, just that there seems to be a very strong movement against it, at least in the circles that I frequent.
I agree that we don’t deserve the status of cyber-guardian and I agree that the content filter is beyond ridiculous.
Muffin raised the point that we don’t even allow R18+ games but why stop there? In Australia at the moment we have a choice between an extreme right-wing and conservative party (the “liberals”, I’ve always found that name a little misleading) and the Nanny-state, slightly less right-wing Labour. Why on Earth would you allow a country who’s political structure has become a bad joke of its former self to hold that kind of international power? If anything, Australia currently deserves a small column in the funnies section where other countries bag us out for being so idiotic.
The content filter barely even bares mentioning because it’s so unbelievable. How one of the so-called “free” nations could even be considering something like this is completely beyond me. Sure, let’s take the sacrifices of every man and woman who ever struggled to keep this country free from oppression by instigating the single largest act of censorship and governmental control over the people and pretend we’re doing it to protect that very freedom they fought for. But why all the preamble? I think it’d be much faster to just walk up to the shrine of the Unknown Soldier and spit on his grave…
@ Shonky Adonis - I agree with you about the scary direction some of Australia’s big political policies seem to be taking our country of late. I’m very opposed to the idea of a government sticking its nose in areas where it doesn’t belong, and the proposed internet content filter is a perfect example of that. Since when has responsible parental become something that the government is taking over?