Australia needs to pay attention to whats goin on in its own back yard ... check this out:
The Internet
Main article: Internet censorship in Australia
Australia’s laws on Internet censorship are, theoretically, amongst the most restrictive in the Western world. However, the restrictive nature of the laws has been combined with almost complete lack of interest in enforcement from the agencies responsible .
Some of the interesting exceptions include an attempt by then NSW Police Minister Michael Costa to shut down Melbourne Indymedia, a case in 2001 involving the US Secret Service that was eventually pleaded out and an attempt by the FBI using the Australian Federal Police to censor a Victorian they alleged was posting threats to the USA .
A collection of both federal and state laws apply, but the most important is the federal legislation which came into effect on January 1, 2000.
If a complaint is issued about material on the Internet, the ACMA is empowered to examine the material under the guidelines for film and video. If it is found that a) the material would be classified R18+ or X18+, and the site does not have an adult verification system, or b) the material would be refused classification:
* If the site is hosted in Australia, the ACMA is empowered to issue a “takedown notice” under which the material must be removed from the site.
* If the site is hosted outside Australia, the site is added to a list of banned sites.
This list of banned sites is then added to filtering software, which must be offered to all consumers by Internet Service Providers and the Australian Government.
On December 31, 2007 the Telecommunications Minister of the newly elected Labor government, Stephen Conroy, announced that Australia would introduce mandatory internet filtering. Once more the reason given is that mandatory filtering is required to "provide greater protection to children from online pornography and violent websites". [4]
As of October 2008, the plan includes two blacklists, one of which will filter illegal content according to internet content laws, and the other will also filter content unsuitable for children. Internet users will be able to opt out of the blacklist for children, but will not be able to opt-out of the illegal content only filter, sparking free speech concerns.[5] No statement has been made about what content will be considered "illegal".
Lawyer internet statements concerning personal injury compensation are censored (see below: Censorship of Personal Injury Compensation).
