Previously, in 2007 the Howard Government introduced a similar concept, The Net Nanny. They proposed that this was going to allow Australians who wanted uncensored access to the web the option to contact their Internet service provider and to be excluded from the service. Approximately $85 million dollars was spent by the Government on this programme, but saw a drastic fall, with only 35,000 people downloading the programme. The result clearly demonstrates the Australian public’s view on the issue and it can be argued that mandatory Internet service provider filtering can be seen as pointless.

I do believe Labor’s high-speed National Broadband Network is definitely a step in the right direction, but their plan to block offensive and inappropriate websites by enforcing mandatory filtering systems will not only slow down internet access, but it will also raise the cost of service for all individuals.

To a certain extent mandatory filtering will protect children from violent and pornographic content online, but if children are innocently surfing the web, it is extremely rare that it will unwillingly land children head first in illicit pictures and information. To access such material, individuals need to be searching for ‘risque’ material to find it and it is most likely that it will not change with a filter in place and for those occasions when people do accidentally stumble across pornography, there is no guarantee a filter would block it anyway.

Personally, I believe a combination of supervision, education and empowerment is the only way we can be sure children are prepared to navigate the web responsibly. This idea of the Government trying to control individuals is against the notion of democracy and freedom. Arguments that filtering is worth a try, show complete disregard for the well being of young Australian and their future standing as technology leaders.

well this is my first official blog…not alot to say at the moment. but i am sure there will be.

peace.

xo xo sf.