Australian Government Plans To Test Internet Filters For Online Gambling
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008The Australian government is planning to test internet filters that will help prevent its citizens from accessing online casinos. Senator Steve Fielding, who unsurprisingly campaigns under the “Family First” banner, wants a compulsory policy forcing service providers to filter available sites.
Australian political observers say the government is under pressure from a vocal minority to require Internet Service Providers to block not only illegal material, such as child pornography, but anything of which they disapprove, such as online gambling sites, fetish sites, and whatever comes next.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy had promised that anyone unhappy with the censorship of the Internet could opt out of the filtering plan, but Conroy’s tune has changed. Now he says that there will be a two-tiered system. Adults wishing to drop out of the block against websites deemed dangerous to children could do so. But all Australians would be barred from sites thought dangerous to adults, which may contain Internet casinos as well as x-rated material featuring consenting adults.
The blacklist would be administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. This would mean that all Australians would be barred from sites thought dangerous to adults, which may contain Internet casinos.


