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NSW Parliamentary Research: Mandatory ISP filtering is not what it seems. PDF Print
Wednesday, 19 November 2008 22:21
The NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service has issued an E-Brief on Internet Censorship and Mandatory Filtering. Its authors Tom Edwards and Gareth Griffith survey the local and international position and conclude that mandatory ISP level filtering is not a feature of many of the countries it reviewed. In place, rather, are voluntary ISP filtering schemes designed to prevent accidental access to a defined list of illegal sites containing child pornography.

The report notes that Italy and Germany may be exceptions.

Comment: The IIA's understanding is that Italy's decree is in fact subordinate legislation - not law per se. It gives effect to an agreement that was previously reached by ISPs and the relevant regulator.

To that extent, Italy has not enacted mandatory ISP filtering, either.

Germany has regulation agreed within the Federation which attaches to search engine providers, not ISPs, and again it was implemented by agreement.

The report's concluding observation is that:

"In terms of the practicality of ISP-level filtering, various issues arise including the potential impact on internet speed and the indiscriminate blocking of innocuous material. There is also the point that URL based/index filtering only blocks access to pages on a pre-determined list. In other words, access would only be blocked to material that has been identified as prohibited by the ACMA."

"According to Senator Conroy, the Rudd Government’s plans are at an early stage. The details of any mandatory filtering scheme remain to be determined."

The E-brief can also be obtained directly from the NSW Parliamentary Research's website.

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 12:45