Inside the Great Australian Internet Blackout

From Jan. 25 until Jan. 29, Australian websites will blackout their sites to highlight pending government censorship. This action has the backing of the Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA).

IT News in Australia has a report on how many Australian Websites are using a "blackout" feature starting from Jan. 25 to raise awareness about how the Government of Australia plans to implement Internet censorship. The legislation may become law when parliament re-convenes in February 2010. The new powers will allow an agency of the government and the Australian Communications and Media Authority the power to block content they deem "inappropriate". Electronic Frontiers Australia commented;

The rest of the world is watching and worrying because of the precedent this sets. If a democracy such as Australia can implement a program such as this in full view of the electorate, what might be next? What hope remains for those countries that do not have our transparent system of government? Citizens of other countries can already sense that their own governments will gleefully point to Australia’s filter when proposing their own clampdown.

Reporters Without Borders, reports that Australia may join the ranks of “The 12 ‘Enemies of the Internet’ - Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam - have all transformed their Internet into an Intranet in order to prevent their population from accessing ‘undesirable’ online information,” Reporters Without Borders said. “

All these countries distinguish themselves not only by their ability to censor online news and information but also by their virtually systematic persecution of troublesome Internet users,” the press freedom organisation said. Reporters Without Borders has placed 10 other governments “under surveillance” for adopting worrying measures that could open the way to abuses. The organisation draws particular attention to Australia and South Korea, where recent measures may endanger online free expression.

According to a government website,

Illegal and offensive online content is regulated through the Online Content Scheme under Schedule 5 and 7 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 through a complaints-based mechanism. The scheme is designed to protect consumers, particularly children, from exposure to inappropriate or harmful material.

The scheme applies to content accessed through the internet, mobile phones and convergent devices, and applies to content delivered through emerging content services such as subscription-based internet portals, chat rooms, live audio-visual streaming, and link services.

Prohibited content includes content that has been classified or is likely to be classified: RC (refused classification) X18+ R18+ unless it is subject to a restricted access system MA15+ and is provided on a commercial basis (i.e. for a fee) unless it is subject to a restricted access system.

These prohibitions are backed by strong sanctions for non-compliance including criminal penalties for serious offences.

The Internet Filter Scheme was announced by Senator Stephen Conroy On December 15th, 2009 Conroy said.

Today, I am announcing new measures to help Australian families stay safer when they are online

. But in an attempt to deflect claims that the censorship mechanism would be the thin end of the wedge, Conroy yesterday was insisting that the only material blocked under mandatory filtering would be RC-material. One site dedicated to opposing the filtering system advises site owners how to add HTML code to their site to protest. The instructions also direct protesters to various social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter to join the crusade. A recent speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admonished China for Internet censorship. It is unknown how Australia, a staunch ally of the U.S., will be regarded should the legislation become law. A total of 70 cyber-dissidents are currently detained because of what they posted online. China is the world’s biggest prison for cyber-dissidents, followed by Vietnam and Iran.