Australia abandons Internet filtering regime

[menotu]

by Cyrus Farivar - Nov 9, 2012

Australia comes to its senses, abandons Internet filtering regime

Canberra says it will use Interpol's "worst of" list to block child abuse sites.

The Australian government has now, after years of testing and preparing, formally abandoned a plan to filter its domestic Internet. Officials now say that it will use Interpol’s "worst of" child abuse site list as a way to shield Ozzies from truly awful content.

"Blocking the Interpol 'worst of' list will help keep children safe from abuse, it meets community expectations, and fulfills the Government's commitment to preventing Australian internet users from accessing child abuse material online," Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said on Friday, according to the Herald Sun.

http://bit.ly/RItP4R

[Just17]

That is indeed good news .......  must be an election in the offing .........  else why the 'about turn'?   

[Tony]

Well there's an election in about a year.

But; "Blocking the Interpol 'worst of' list will help keep children safe from abuse,..."

I dunno, what are children doing online unsupervised anyway, plus would they really be "accessing child abuse material online ?"

It kind of terrifies me anytime I hear "The Australian Government" having anything to do with 'Internet', 'Filtering', 'Broadband', and the like. None of them know how to use a computer...

Apparently "they" are building a $3.8 Billion Fibre Optic Broadband Network, I think it's been happening for three years roughly. Areas were it's already been 'Rolled Out' people don't seem to want it.
Every household in Australia will have a connection, a box where you have it enabled, or not.

With such a lot of people not knowing what a Computer is, but using one each day, it sounds a recipe for disaster giving unprotected Computers a 100 MegaByte/Sec Internet connection. (That's not even fast is it ? )
I have 1 MegaByte/Sec speed, but after 50 GB's of data usage, In and Out, it's slowed to 56K. Have to check my usage daily, DialUp is torture.
I suppose not having a Filter modelled on the "Great Firewall of China" is something. That was the last plan, which would have killed any increase in Internet speeds. The list of sites was 'leaked' and people revolted, heartily.

Honestly, with kids having to go to school anyway, surely Security Online could be squeezed into the curriculum ?

[Just17]

With such a lot of people not knowing what a Computer is, but using one each day, it sounds a recipe for disaster giving unprotected Computers a 100 MegaByte/Sec Internet connection. (That's not even fast is it ? )

I think you will find it is 100MegaBit ....  100Mb/s connection .......  and yes it is fast .....  but is a factor of 8 slower than 100MB(yte)/s

100MB/s would download a distro ISO (700MB) in about 7 secs 
100Mb/s would download a distro ISO (700MB) in about 1 minute 

I most certainly consider that fast!  I get about 4Mb/s presently. So 25 to 30 mins to grab an ISO.

Anyone got a link to that Interpol list    

 

[Tony]

Damn, it's even more ridiculous than I first thought !

http://www.nbn.gov.au/2012/04/27/what-is-the-national-broadband-network/

"...93 per cent of premises will have access to the NBN through optic fibre to the premises , capable of providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second." 

A Gigabit is "10 to power of 9", ...1,000,000,000 'bits' per second, that's damn fast.
100Mb/s  is "10 to power of 8", ... 100,000,000   'bits' per second'.

Just 17

100Mb/s would download a distro ISO (700MB) in about 1 minute

Divide a Minute by a factor of 10.
Based on above data from Just 17, I guess 'roughly' a 700MB download would be 6 seconds.

Crazy hey !

Anyone got a link to that Interpol list    

I wouldn't look, but I'm sure Google would have it. Nothings sacred these days.

[JALU]

"...93 per cent of premises will have access to the NBN through optic fibre to the premises , capable of providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second."
 of 9", ...1,000,000,000 'bits' per second, that's damn fast.

Huh Hummm!  A comment from an Australian citizen/internet user - I say run up the BS flag again.   I see nothing like that speed on the horizon!  "optic fibre to the premises" is not the promised optic fibre to the "node".  (what ever they mean by "node")
It's more likely that we will only get optic fibre to the local telephone exchanges.
>Cages

[Tony]

Huh Hummm!  A comment from an Australian citizen/internet user - I say run up the BS flag again.

http://www.nbn.gov.au/2012/04/27/what-is-the-national-broadband-network/
Check the link darkages III, you fool; It's an Australian Government statement.
darkages III:

It's more likely that we will only get optic fibre to the local telephone exchanges.

And you have a link or information to back that up ?

I'm just pointing out that over the years such a grandiose plan will wither surely. The "Node" at the moment will be at the corner of each street; then Copper to the houses.
I take no responsibility for what my Government says.

Published on April 27, 2012   

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is a next-generation broadband network designed for Australia’s future needs. It will provide faster, more reliable broadband access to all Australian homes and businesses through a mix of three technologies: optic fibre, fixed wireless and next-generation satellite.

93 per cent of premises will have access to the NBN through optic fibre to the premises , capable of providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second
7 per cent of premises will have access to the NBN through next-generation, high-speed fixed wireless and satellite technologies, providing peak speeds of 12 megabits per second.

The NBN will be Australia’s first national wholesale-only, open access, high-speed broadband network. This means NBN Co Limited – the company established by government to design, build and operate the NBN – will roll out the network and sell wholesale services to service providers, such as your internet or phone provider. In turn, service providers will offer retail services to you (the consumer).

This is a significant structural change to Australia’s telecommunications industry, aimed at encouraging vibrant competition in the market.

[Just17]

1 Gb/s is likely the max the system is designed for, but the intention appears to be to provide up to 100 Mb/s to the end points.

It appears that a large portion of the roll out will be 'to the home', with a further percentage 'to the cabinet' ......  usually means to the street in urban areas. Although the quote from the Aus gov would seem to indicate that all will be fibre to the home .....

Either way it will provide Aus consumers with the possibility of signing up for up to 100Mb/s connections with a variety of providers.

I applaud the initiative ....  I only wish my gov had the foresight and money to do something similar here, instead of a large portion of the citizens relying on really really old copper telephone lines, travelling relatively long distances, with the result that some are lucky to get 1Mb/s, with a large number limited to ~3Mb/s.

.....  envious ......

[Crow]

I dunno, what are children doing online unsupervised anyway, plus would they really be "accessing child abuse material online ?"

Homework maybe, with this neoliberalist economy usually both parents have to work all day.

In fact, I don't think "vigilance" works with kids, education do. I have seen my 11 year old son censor himself with things like "no, I won't see that movie, it's "PG-13" rated" or "I want to see X movie and it is B (adolescents), will you let me go?"  He has a list of movies to see and games to play    but he agreed to wait.

We can't leave vigilance but we need to educate the control of the impulse for the individual himself, kids need to learn to postpone gratification, it's a very needed ability in today's world.

[JALU]

Huh Hummm!  A comment from an Australian citizen/internet user - I say run up the BS flag again.

http://www.nbn.gov.au/2012/04/27/what-is-the-national-broadband-network/
Check the link darkages III, you fool; It's an Australian Government statement.
darkages III:

It's more likely that we will only get optic fibre to the local telephone exchanges.

And you have a link or information to back that up ?

I'm just pointing out that over the years such a grandiose plan will wither surely. The "Node" at the moment will be at the corner of each street; then Copper to the houses.
I take no responsibility for what my Government says.

And a PM from Tony this morning...

(No subject)
« Sent to: darkages III on: Today at 07:50:02 AM »
   
I suppose as I've called you a "Fool" that is almost enough clarity regarding your statement; however.
Not impressed:
Quote
Huh Hummm!  A comment from an Australian citizen/internet user - I say run up the BS flag again.


I further explain my post is quoted from the Australian Government.
Go run a BS flag up your own flag pole buddy  

Thank you Tony - a little early for trolling on a Sunday morning don't you think?  It is nice to visit the PCLinux forum from time to time although I do receive some occasional abuse.
>Cages

[Bald Brick]

Dear Aussies,

What are you bickering about? To the rest of us your opinions seem almost identical. Apart from who should run up the BS flag.

[Tony]

Thank you Tony

You're very welcome, anytime Cages