Why the Internet filter is not the solution we wish it was

Penny Sharpe — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:00:48 -0700

Yesterday's announcement by Senator Stephen Conroy that the federal government will introduce "mandatory ISP-level filtering of Refused Classification (RC) -rated content" is a backward step that if adopted will be a triumph of fear and false promise over what works and good sense.

I add my voice to the many that understand that the Federal Government's proposals to filter the Internet are:

a waste of time
a waste of money
a false promise to parents that will not stop kids being exposed to undesirable content online
a move towards censorship that a democratic and free nation like Australia should reject

The proposed Internet filter creates a diversion from tackling broader issues of how the online environment (which also includes mobile phones and games) is rapidly changing social norms, expectations and behaviour.

There are urgent issues that need to be addressed: protecting children from inappropriate material, protecting privacy, cyberstalking and bullying, how to protect citizens from identity theft to name just a few.

The solution to these issues is not a mandatory filter. The solutions include the far more difficult, time consuming and gradual process of:

education for all citizens, especially parents and kids,
greater policing and investigation
greater resourcing to support families and communities, and
continuous law reform in the areas of privacy and communications.

With the roll out of the national broadband network and laptop computers, Australia has a once in a generation opportunity to roll out mandatory education on how to use IT -grasping the opportunity to enthuse and skill our citizens, at the same time having the one to one conversations about cybersafety and privacy that will have the greatest impact.

As a

parent of young children who is engaged daily on issues of internet use
MP who takes an active interest in child protection laws, policies & practice, and,
legislator who is sometimes asked to consider proposals driven by a desire for short term silver bullets rather than cautious consideration of the evidence and the need to give due consideration to democratic rights and freedoms,

I urge the federal government to consider other options rather than this proposal.

child protection

Why the Internet filter is not the solution we wish it was