Australian ISPs Don't Want To Babysit

[alexis]

Australia recently launched a plan to clean up the Internet by spending $89 million on a porn filter that's already been beaten by kids. The plan also mandates that ISPs filter offensive material at the source. Mirroring a similar push here in the States, ISPs are also being pressured to identify piracy on the networks, send letters to offending users and then throttle connections and cancel accounts:

The ISP would then send those customers a letter directing them to an information site "to educate people that this activity is illegal, that it's not anonymous." Repeat offenders would have their access speeds slowed and, ultimately, their internet service disconnected "if they continue to flagrantly engage in illegal activity." [emphasis added]

Australian ISPs are concerned about the cost of such a plan, and also fear they're being turned into Internet watchdogs that will ultimately be held legally liable for the actions of Internet users.

Source

I think thats a good plan, going to keep an eye on it and see how it works out. If it works in Oz, why not in other places?

[conquest102]

Now that's not so good news for a lot of people although this is a good move to clean up the internet. Movie makers, programs developers, and song writers are the biggest fans of this move for they are ones most affected by illegal downloading.

The plan also mandates that ISPs filter offensive material at the source.

So please tell me if I'm wrong, they will filter sites that have "offensive material". If ever I talk badly to the president in a forum, then would that be an offensive material?

[moondy]

Update from an Australian:
The filter was 'hacked' by a 16 year old kid who got around the filter in around 40 minutes. This actually happened about a month ago...

http://digg.com/security/Government_...minutes_by_kid

In other words we just spent $84+ million on nothing.