Review of website blacklist in wind, by Dan Harrison - The Age - 27th May 2009

The Federal Government is considering having a secret blacklist of banned websites reviewed by a panel of eminent Australians or a parliamentary committee to try to get more transparency in the controversial internet censorship regime.

The blacklist, which has existed since 2000, is maintained by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which considers sites for inclusion based on complaints from the public, groups and law enforcement agencies.

The list is supplied to the makers of internet filters, but publication of the list is a criminal offence. This has led to criticisms that websites could be listed without their knowing it and without any opportunity to challenge their inclusion.

The Government became the subject of ridicule in March when whistleblower website Wikileaks published a list of websites it claimed was the blacklist. As well as child porn, bestiality, rape and extreme violence sites, the list included seemingly innocuous pages including online poker sites and the website of a dentist.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told a Senate estimates hearing yesterday that the Government was "considering options for greater transparency and accountability in respect of the blacklist", including a regular review of the list by a panel of eminent persons or parliamentary committee or a review of complaints by the classification board. The ACMA blacklist is being used as the basis for trials to test the technical feasibility of government plans to block banned websites at the internet service provider level.

The proposal has attracted fierce criticism on free speech grounds and from others who suggest it will be ineffective and will slow internet speeds. Senator Conroy said the results of the trials would be considered along with possible transparency measures before the Government makes a final decision on implementation of the policy.

About 30,000 customers have been invited to participate in the trials by the nine internet service providers taking part. Senator Conroy has promised to release a report on the results of the trials, which are expected in July.

The blacklist contains 977 websites. Senator Conroy said the Government hoped to expand the list through co-operation with international agencies.

Communications and Media Authority officials told the hearing of a 90 per cent increase in complaints about websites in the past 18 months. They attributed this to greater public awareness of the list.

Senator Conroy has said the filtering efforts would focus on "refused classification" material, such as child sexual abuse and instruction in crime. (Credit: The Age)

Media Man Australia Profiles

Australian Casino News

Online Casino News

Poker News

Casino News