Internet Industry Association

This is the IIA position on the issue of mandatory filtering of internet content. It is to be read in conjunction with the Guide for Internet Users which sets out protections already available for all Australian families.

Policy Statement

The IIA considers calls for forced network level filtering by ISPs to be an inappropriate and heavy handed response to the important and complex issue of online child protection.

As co-architects (together with the Australian government) of the most sophisticated system of online child protection in the world, we say it there is no reason, under current arrangements, why any Australian child need be exposed to inappropriate material on the internet. Today.

As Australia’s national internet industry body with a demonstrated commitment to online child protection, we remain convinced that what works in a limited corporate or school network environment cannot scale cope with the load of large populations of users.  The IIA rejects any assertion that server-level products will not impact on network performance when scaled across the millions of users who access the internet every day.

This conclusion is based on own advice from reputable, independent test labs, combined with recent government studies which have shown that server level filtering solutions will have significant adverse impacts on network performance.

In an optional setting, that may be a tolerable trade-off against specific situations which a parent can control. However, it is highly irresponsible for proponents of mandatory filtering to seek to interfere with the fundamental architecture of the greatest communications medium yet devised, particularly when:

• there is an alternative available to all internet users in Australia that provides at least as effective results with none of the adverse consequences;
• only the most repressive regimes in the world have attempted such an approach; and
• such a solution would create a very real risk of creating a false sense of security for families, to the detriment of our children.

The reality is that current solutions exist that ISPs are legally obliged to provide their customers. When combined with appropriate parental supervision, these are the most appropriate response to the online child protection. We call this 'industry-facilitiated user empowerment' – that is, industry helping families put the appropriate controls in place for their own situation. More can and is being done to progressively raise the awareness of families as to their choices. That is where the effort should be going.

It is argued that home filters are too difficult to install or that children who know more about the internet than their parents can simply switch them off. This is a myth.

The truth is that current solutions for the home computer are as easy to install as anti-virus solutions – you insert the CD-ROM in the drive and follow the prompts, or download the program and do the same thing. In the process, you set a password that only you know. Unless you tell this to the child, there is no way they can disable the protections. Most filters also allow you to customise levels of protection and set accounts for different users – again very simply, according to the age and needs of each user.

For those who would even find this too hard, some ISPs are also offering optional server level filtering. Though it may affect performance, it is the conscious choice of families and not the government to determine what can be accessed and they will take reduced network performance into account in selecting this option.

These solutions when used on conjunction with adequate supervision provide the best protections yet devised anywhere. Again, they are available now in Australia and ISPs are not permitted from the profit of their supply. The products which the IIA recommends have all been tested to ensure ease of use and effectiveness.

Mandatory solutions will offer none of these refinements. They cannot cope with multiple-user households or commercial situations – leaving Australians with a one-size-fits-all solution that takes no account of the different environments in which the internet is used.

The proponents of mandatory filtering have given no consideration to the practicalities of how a system would work or the massive costs that would inevitably be passed onto end users, whether they want the system or not.

'Set and forget' solutions simply do not exist

Anyone who claims to guarantee "every Australian access to the internet free from pornography and extreme violence" can only be talking about a white list service - where Australians are only able to visit sites pre-approved by the government. This is a solution that not even China has attempted.

We are disappointed that in the presence of effective solutions which Australian internet users are already legally entitled to obtain from ISPs, there should be further political interference in an issue that is simply too important to be politicised.

We urge Australian internet users with concerns about child protection to visit their ISP's website and access the filter tools available.

Importantly, internet users who believe their ISP is not complying with the industry Code of Practice in this regard, should direct their complaint to the Australian Communications and Media Authority who will take to appropriate action against non-complying ISPs. The Code applies to ALL ISPs in Australia.

The IIA has developed a Family Friendly ISP program to designate those ISPs who are committed to online child protection under our scheme. These ISPs are displaying the 'Ladybird Logo' on their websites.

In addition, NetAlert has resources to empower families with information about online child protection.
 
For more information please contact the IIA on (02) 6232 6900.