On 31 December 2008, the Federal Government announced that it would be discontinuing the NetAlert internet filtering program established by the previous government. The government will now require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to implement a new mandatory internet filtering system. In promoting the new system, much focus has been placed on the system's ability to effectively block access to websites containing material offensive to children, including child pornography and cyber-bullying. However, the Government's plans have been met with some criticism, particularly by those concerned with the level of censorship that could be imposed by the system.

The previous NetAlert system was an optional filtering program available for free download. If they wished, parents could download the program and use it in conjunction with any other internet filters or other security programs installed on their computer. The idea of the NetAlert initiative was to allow parents to manage their children's internet usage in line with their own family values. To this extent, end users were in a position to adjust the filtering preferences of the NetAlert program and thus control the level of content available for their children on their own computer. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the percentage of internet users that downloaded the NetAlert program was lower than initial expectations.

The new system to be introduced by the Government is a mandatory filtering system implemented at the ISP level. It is intended that all internet connections will be subject to ISP filters, which will filter internet content to end users without giving the end user an option to vary the level of filtration. Prohibited websites included on blacklists maintained by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will be routinely blocked by the filters. The Government is currently undertaking a live test of the new system with certain ISPs to determine its feasibility moving forward.

A number of questions and criticisms have been levelled at the proposed new system. In particular, the following issues have been raised:

  • Should the onus of child supervision be taken from parents? Many believe that through the new system the Government is seeking to assume a responsibility best left to parents;
  • ISP filters cannot prevent all means of spreading information over the internet. Given that a large amount of cyber-bullying is conducted via instant messaging or other direct communication methods that cannot be blocked by ISP filters, there is concern that the new system will not effectively achieve one of its primary goals;
  • Will the implementation of ISP filters slow down internet connections? Many ISPs have already stated that current technology cannot allow for blanket filtering without affecting internet speeds;
  • With the exception of illegal materials, should the Government be empowered to decide what is otherwise offensive for end users? "Illegal" materials in general must be distinguished from materials to which access by children only is prohibited. Given that the blacklists prepared by the ACMA contain certain material that is lawful for adults to view, there is a strong concern that the proposed ISP filters will block legal material otherwise available to adults in an effort to protect children; and
  • Is a filtering system provided at the ISP level more secure than a filtering program installed on a PC? Some internet experts suggest that the means for children to circumvent ISP and PC-based filters are the same, meaning that practically no extra level of security is afforded by introducing filters at the ISP level.

The live testing currently being conducted by the government should answer at least the technical questions and criticisms listed above. However, moral questions concerning censorship and the Government's role in filtering publicly available content will remain open to further discussion as the Government's cyber-safety plan is rolled out over the course of the year.

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