Australian Government Dumps Mandatory Internet Filtering SchemeAndrew Puhanic, Contributor The scheme initially was proposed by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2007, and would have forced all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block all websites that have been identified by the Australian Communications and Media Authority as restricted. Opposition to the policy came from many groups when the Australian Government announced the concept of an Internet filter in Australia, including ISPs, childrens welfare groups, Google, the US Ambassador and other prominent civil libertarian groups. Cyber-activists in Australia even compared the Internet filtering scheme to firewalls operating in China and Iran. The Australian Governments proposed Internet filter, also known as the nanny state filter, will now be replaced with a slimmed down version that will only block websites supplied by Interpol that have been identified as displaying child pornography. Under the existing powers under the Telecommunications Act, ISPs will be forced to block the list of restricted websites. When the slimmed down version of the Internet filter is implemented, there will beno regulations or safeguardsto prevent the government from adding other (non-Interpol) websites to the filter list. This victory comes hand in hand with a recent decision by the Australian Government to withdraw its proposed changes to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 that would have forced Australian telecommunications companies and ISPs to collect and store phone and Internet data records for a minimum two years. Considering that the governments unpopular carbon tax has severely affected the Australian Governments popularity, and that the next election will be held within the next 12 months, is this recent change of heart simply a political decision rather than a moral one? Andrew Puhanic is the founder of the Globalist Report. The aim of the Globalist Report is to provide current, relevant and informative information about the Globalists and Globalist Agenda. You can contact Andrew directly by visiting the Globalist Report linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 