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ATTN Aussies: Bloggers targetted in new media cencoreship proposals

by Chris Worner
10 replies
PRINT and online news will come under direct federal government oversight for the first time under proposals issued yesterday to create a statutory regulator with the power to prosecute media companies in the courts.
You should take note of this article because the proposed laws extend to internet blogging.

Link here.

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Brief History of censorship in recent times

As many Aussies will remember, Senator Conroy, the communications minister for the Labor(socialist) government wished to impose an internet filter not all that long under the guise of 'child protection.' Which would involve a blacklist under the control of his office, the ACMA. (Australian Communications Authority)

After the inevitable backlash and opposition to it, the idea was eventually dropped (at least publicly) and instead, he has at every available oppotunity expressed his desire for tighter media regulation. He has also been exposed colluding with media companies in bullying the third largest internet provider in Australia (iiNet) because they are an easier target than Telstra. (He has been quoted saying this) Telstra is Australias largest telecom. (Owns 90% of the infrastructure)

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How this effects you

The reason this is important is because as an operator of a blog, if you receive fifteen thousand or more hits in a year, the government will have the ability if to regulate and prosecute you under these proposed changes.

If you do or say something the government doesn't like, it will be able to essentially shut you down.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be willing to get into a legal fight with the government.

These changes are a blatant attack on not only freedom of expression but civil liberties as a whole as these laws are easily extended and abused.

I highly suggest you contact your local member of parliament and express your opposition to these changes. If you don't know who your local member is the following link should help you;

Contact parliament - australia.gov.au



-Chris
#attn #aussies #failed #filter #governments #head #internet #reared #successor #ugly
  • Profile picture of the author Simon Ashari
    Yep, just like in the book 1984.

    Anyone who says anything against the government is committing a thought crime.
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    • Profile picture of the author talfighel
      Originally Posted by Simon Ashari View Post

      Yep, just like in the book 1984.

      Anyone who says anything against the government is committing a thought crime.
      So you guys don't have open press in Australia?
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      • Profile picture of the author Chris Worner
        Originally Posted by talfighel View Post

        So you guys don't have open press in Australia?
        To answer this question properly and shed further background (other than my original post) on how these proposals came about and why would involve turning this thread into a political debate. I don't wish to do so because the thread would get nuked.

        -Chris
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        • Profile picture of the author wordofmouthmagic
          I like this quote, 'Greg Jericho, a prominent Canberra blogger on national politics, said: "The level of 15,000 hits a year, or about 40 hits a day, is seriously dopey."'

          And I'm sorry to see that Bob Brown of the Greens is thinking along the same lines as Conroy.

          Maybe as a .com site I can escape this - or maybe not.
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        • Profile picture of the author Simon Ashari
          Originally Posted by talfighel View Post

          So you guys don't have open press in Australia?
          At the moment we do, but we are headed in the wrong direction. Nobody takes all your freedoms away at once... they do it bit at a time.

          A bit like the analogy of eating an elephant (one bite at a time).

          Originally Posted by Chris Worner View Post

          To answer this question properly and shed further background (other than my original post) on how these proposals came about and why would involve turning this thread into a political debate. I don't wish to do so because the thread would get nuked.

          -Chris
          This would get political for sure. I know what Chris is talking about.

          -Simon
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    I would not register as it will put you on their hit list.

    Quentin
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  • Profile picture of the author davejug1
    Shocking attempt to regulate and restrict both the internet and small business.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    Man! That is weird! That is a DIRECT attack on FREE PRESS in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    Man! That is weird! That is a DIRECT attack on FREE PRESS in my opinion.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rashell
      Wow, that's just nuts. Quick question... if you're a public speaker and are able to speak to over 15,000 people per year would you come under the same regulations?

      With 15,000 hits per year that's under 2000 readers per month. And that's if the hits are coming from something other than bots and repeat visitors.

      Rashell
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