Internet censorship - Danger! Options

[Bryan]

The government has been keeping this very quiet, but there are (extremely ill-advised) moves afoot to introduce compulsory ISP-level content filtering throughout the whole country. This draconian move is being pushed by the religious-right and if you don't think it will have any effect on you, think again.

After bleating on about Chinese internet censorship during the Beijing Olympics, our own illustrious government wants to do the same thing!

This has been tried and has failed in many other countries, so the government has commissioned reports about it. Most have come back with the answer that the scheme can't work, so of course those have been ignored. Apparently one has said it's doable, so they're going with that.

The main problems are these:
1. It will slow our already slow access speeds by up to 86% to allow for the examination of search terms and content.
2. It will block things that should get through (as has been shown overseas).
3. It will allow things that should be blocked (as has also been shown overseas).
4. It will drastically restrict internet access to material on many research topics. Imagine the case of a student doing research either on Jihad or paedophilia. Can you see ASIO not kicking the door down at 3:00 in the morning?
5. And most importantly, the filter will block anything the government deems 'inappropriate'! After John Howard's axing of The Glass House, you can imagine where this will lead next time we have a socially unevolved government in power (not that the present one is any great shakes).

The unintended (or maybe intended?) consequences of this for Postgrad, Academic and even Undergrad research will be horrific and we've got to get a ground swell of opposition going now before it's too late.

I don't for one moment advocate kiddie porn or violence on the internet, but the collateral ramifications of this hare-brained, one-size-fits-all scheme are just too great! Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Why should the whole country be subjected to the moral viewpoint of one, itself none too evolved, lobby?

Below are a couple of links that will give you some more detail. Tell all your friends! Lobby your idiot pollies! Don't let them get away with this - it will be just too convenient for successive governments to ever undo.

Filter advocates need to check their facts

No Clean Feed

[KizzyKat]

Despite the fact that one of my youngsters has accidently stumbled upon porn from a totally innocent web search (she was after a rhyming dictionary) - I am TOTALLY against this form of internet blockage.

So OK Bryan - what do we do? You want us writing letters to our local federal mp or what??

[Bryan]

OK...There are links to sign a petition (not that they are overly effective) on the nocleanfeed site. There is also a proforma e-mail to send to the minister.

The main thing you can do is rev up all your friends as well as writing to/ringing/e-mailing your local polly. Get your friends to do the same. The only way we can stop this is through sheer numbers. Remember, we don't live in a democracy as such - it's more like a dictatorship-by-committee. The only way to get action is through making them scared of the numbers.

Tell all the academics you know as well; it affects them too. Write to the paper.

Alright, I'm getting a bit over the top, but our main weapon is knowledge. Let as many people know as you can.

[Dr Monopoly]

This definitely is a concerning proposal, and it is a good idea to write to various politicians, the media, etc. As Bryan noted, form or template letters don't have much effect. I would suggest that we use the proforma letters for inspiration and background, but change them or write our own from scratch. A catching title or subject line will increase the likelihood of letters/emails/submissions being read.

While having the numbers and raising awareness of the issue are valuable, the quality of submissions is also important. A persuasive argument is more likely to be effective than 100 unconvincing ones. As postgraduates, most of us are able to write effectively and get our point accross constructively and forcefully. We need to go for numbers as well as quality in our lobbying.

Mandatory ISP level internet censorship affects us all. Proposals such as this are best opposed by credible and constructive opposition. Comments such as "idiot pollies" and "dictatorship-by-committee" etc,are unhelpful, weaken arguments and undermine the credibility of the writer. Putting decision-makers offside just detracts from the argument.

As a postgraduate student, I am concerned that the MPA President's posts - which are public statements under his official title - include such ill-considered and potentially embarrassing rhetoric.

Let's keep our opposition to this issue credible, constructive and persuasive! Be vocal and make it count!

[KizzyKat]

oooh you gunna boink him with your mod stick Dr M?

[Bryan]

OK...I've been waiting for something like this. Why is it when we start a higher degree, we lose our sense of humour? I certainly don't want to make enemies here.

BUT...

Firstly, if Dr Monopoly has an issue with me, s/he is welcome to take it up in private and preferably in person rather than hiding behind an alias.

Secondly, what sort of idiot does s/he take me for that s/he thinks I would couch any communication with the government or politicians in such terms as these? If s/he had bothered to contact me personally, s/he would see that her/his concerns are unfounded.

Thirdly, although cogent argumentation looks the goods on paper and would be respected in such circles as ours, s/he must realise that this debate is not being driven by logic or rationality (like the Howard government's VSU process). It is being driven by the religious right - the very same people who would have engaged in book-burning not so long ago. They have no interest in research or the dissemination of any information with which they do not agree so, as Dr Monopoly suggests, quantity as well as quality is of paramount importance here.

Lastly, rather than engaging in personal attacks and dividing our community, if Dr Monopoly would like to take over this campaign on behalf of the MPA and Monash University, s/he is most welcome and I would encourage any civil, private communication s/he would like to engage in. That also applies if s/he has any further constructive suggestions to make.

I'm sorry it has come to this and I would like to assure everyone that, although I do not take myself overly seriously, I certainly take my position seriously and would do nothing to damage either it or the university.

This definitely is a concerning proposal, and it is a good idea to write to various politicians, the media, etc. As Bryan noted, form or template letters don't have much effect. I would suggest that we use the proforma letters for inspiration and background, but change them or write our own from scratch. A catching title or subject line will increase the likelihood of letters/emails/submissions being read.

While having the numbers and raising awareness of the issue are valuable, the quality of submissions is also important. A persuasive argument is more likely to be effective than 100 unconvincing ones. As postgraduates, most of us are able to write effectively and get our point accross constructively and forcefully. We need to go for numbers as well as quality in our lobbying.

Mandatory ISP level internet censorship affects us all. Proposals such as this are best opposed by credible and constructive opposition. Comments such as "idiot pollies" and "dictatorship-by-committee" etc,are unhelpful, weaken arguments and undermine the credibility of the writer. Putting decision-makers offside just detracts from the argument.

As a postgraduate student, I am concerned that the MPA President's posts - which are public statements under his official title - include such ill-considered and potentially embarrassing rhetoric.

Let's keep our opposition to this issue credible, constructive and persuasive! Be vocal and make it count!

[KizzyKat]

[Dr Monopoly]

oooh you gunna boink him with your mod stick Dr M?

Ha ha - no Kizzy Kat - I don't think it's a mod issue at all, do you?

[Dr Monopoly]

Ok, just to clarify a few things so we can get back to the main issue of opposing internet censorship:

1. If I had an issue with anyone on this forum, I would take this discussion offline. If I had a personal issue with anyone elsewhere, I would discuss it face to face. I'm conscious that as forum mod I probably have to be more careful than anyone in terms of what I post (otherwise Zotan will appear to kick my butt). I certainly have neither the need nor the intention to hide; people using an online forum post under their avatar and I don't feel that anything I've posted requires anything else.

2. If I thought anyone was an idiot, I would tell them that! For the record, this applies to politicians (including Presidents, should the need ever arise ) as well as anyone else! That being said, I certainly wouldn't do it under my title as the head/member of any organisation. I am aware that this forum as most other internet content can be publically accessed (one of the great benefits of uncensored internet access) and parties to negotiations or on opposing sides of an issue routinely access publically available content posted by, or about, others. It is easy to inadvertantly put something out there which will come back to haunt one.

3. While it is regrettable that my comments in my previous post on the issue may have been interpreted as "personal" or "divisive," I do not regret highlighting the importance of being conscious of what is said under the banner of a student organisation which may well participate in public debate on the matter.

The MPA exists for all postgraduates, is inclusive, multicultural, apolitical, not religiously affiliated, and has a long history of credible participation in constructive discourse on a wide range of issues. Let's be careful not jeopardise any of that, or put anyone offside, even inadvertantly.

Now that that's out of the way...
I am wondering, will the MPA be participating in discussions on the issue of internet censorship? Is it something to lobby through CAPA to have a national postgrad response? What do other postgrads think about the issue? Is anyone out there likely to be affected due to the nature of the research they are doing at the moment? This remains a complex issue with a range of potential ramifications. It affects everything from the most recent thinking on 'anti-terrorism' measures back to age old principles of academic freedom.

[Bryan]

As it turns out, I'm giving a presentation to the CAPA ACM (using very constrained language) on this topic this very day.

Other than that, I don't resile from anything I said previously.

Ok, just to clarify a few things so we can get back to the main issue of opposing internet censorship:

1. If I had an issue with anyone on this forum, I would take this discussion offline. If I had a personal issue with anyone elsewhere, I would discuss it face to face. I'm conscious that as forum mod I probably have to be more careful than anyone in terms of what I post (otherwise Zotan will appear to kick my butt). I certainly have neither the need nor the intention to hide; people using an online forum post under their avatar and I don't feel that anything I've posted requires anything else.

2. If I thought anyone was an idiot, I would tell them that! For the record, this applies to politicians (including Presidents, should the need ever arise ) as well as anyone else! That being said, I certainly wouldn't do it under my title as the head/member of any organisation. I am aware that this forum as most other internet content can be publically accessed (one of the great benefits of uncensored internet access) and parties to negotiations or on opposing sides of an issue routinely access publically available content posted by, or about, others. It is easy to inadvertantly put something out there which will come back to haunt one.

3. While it is regrettable that my comments in my previous post on the issue may have been interpreted as "personal" or "divisive," I do not regret highlighting the importance of being conscious of what is said under the banner of a student organisation which may well participate in public debate on the matter.

The MPA exists for all postgraduates, is inclusive, multicultural, apolitical, not religiously affiliated, and has a long history of credible participation in constructive discourse on a wide range of issues. Let's be careful not jeopardise any of that, or put anyone offside, even inadvertantly.

Now that that's out of the way...
I am wondering, will the MPA be participating in discussions on the issue of internet censorship? Is it something to lobby through CAPA to have a national postgrad response? What do other postgrads think about the issue? Is anyone out there likely to be affected due to the nature of the research they are doing at the moment? This remains a complex issue with a range of potential ramifications. It affects everything from the most recent thinking on 'anti-terrorism' measures back to age old principles of academic freedom.

[KizzyKat]

oooh you gunna boink him with your mod stick Dr M?

Ha ha - no Kizzy Kat - I don't think it's a mod issue at all, do you?

Nah - but you know me - just can't resist the chance to make a smartarse comment and use the 'grin and runaway' smilie (a personal favourite)

[Dr Monopoly]

Nah - but you know me - just can't resist the chance to make a smartarse comment and use the 'grin and runaway' smilie (a personal favourite)

Well you do use it with such style!

[Bryan]

Getting back to the topic at hand...

I gave the presentation and it certainly caused a stir. A lot of people hadn't thought out the ramifications of the scheme and CAPA has taken it up. They want to put my PPT on their site, but I was reluctant as there was some 'inappropriate' language in it. I got voted down, so I suppose I'll get another earful sigh... Anyhow, I've sent some more info and I'm hoping they'll use that and just put up the facts rather than the speech notes.

Watch this space.



This post has been edited by Bryan: Dec 7 2008, 09:39 PM

[moggie]

onya, Bryan!!

sometimes a less orthodox and more forthright initial approach gets people's attention to an issue that could be overlooked using a more measured and 'correct' method

being on the receiving end of an earful is worth it if you have a good argument, and it means you've got their attention

hopefully capa will pursue the issue with gusto

[Bryan]

Awww...Thanks for that .

Makes it all worthwhile and yes, CAPA is going to pursue this, as are the affiliates.

Maintain your rage!

[Brenden]

Apparently every country in the world is doing this now. You should see this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFhbSolKWP0) and see how the new world government is planning to destroy the Internet and replace it with a censored one. This video is presented by the one and only Alex Jones.

So what is the government attempting to hide from us? What if I was to a project discussing the pros and cons of a possible "Asian Union", and it came very close to telling the truth. I would then be raided by ASIO. The fear is actually the sound of the system falling apart and a truly new world order will be implemented...by US! If you don't believe me, take this quote I found on Facebook in the group "The Zeitgeist Movement"

It's good for us to be aware and know what is going on, but DO NOT BE AFRAID. Fear is the vibration of the old system that is crumbling. These things that are happening on the outer are illusion -- the real work is for us to keep our resonance in tune with things like the vision of the Venus Project – through hope, love, abundance and great expectations, we can and will create a new reality!

I'm amazed at how many folks are connecting the dots and seeing the truth, and yet they react in fear and contraction, resisting any and all ideas of globalization and peace as being "the new world order." We need a new world order -- just not the one the elite have planned. We can create whatever world we want -- let's make our own "new world"...

Change comes from within us, as we live the same ingredients we want to see in the whole system (fairness, love, peace, harmony, openness, abundance...)

Note the key phrase "The Venus Project". And you can check out on this website http://www.thevenusproject.com/. And download the free e-books and distribute it to all your buddies. And there is a film there you MUST download (must as in a MUST SEE documentary). Download it before Chairman Kev blocks it.

[moggie]

Brenden, I hope that bulge in your cheek is your tongue firmly planted there.


O no, I have to go - I see a Red Under The Bed (is that Chairman Kev?) cosying up to that Socialist Obama

I'd better Duck & Cover

[Bryan]

Mate,

They'd probably kick down your neighhbour's door by mistake

Have a great break.

B.

[Brenden]

Sorry for bumping this thread, but there is a video on YouTube that talks about internet censorship, and be warned: It's not just in Australia, but it is happening all around the world (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMEpEddyfMI&feature=related). This is just Part 1 of 4 and features Alex Jones. YOU MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO to understand how they are implementing internet censorship all over the world.

EDIT: Just copy and paste the email address. View it before it is censored by Chairman Kev.

This post has been edited by Brenden: Oct 20 2009, 11:33 AM

[KizzyKat]

Brendan - do I really want to listen to the ravings of a rapid far right-wing conspiracy theorist?

This post has been edited by KizzyKat: Oct 22 2009, 08:36 PM