Customers of Netspace respond to ISP filtering plans
A recent survey of customers regarding the planned filtering at ISP level has shown that the majority of users dont believe that this filtering system will not be beneficial to users of the internet and the possibility of an increase in charges has met with strong opposition.
The results of a customer survey on internet filtering at an ISP level, which were recently released by Netspace have shown that the public opposition the federal government’s plan for the clean-feed service is currently very strong.
Out of almost 10 000 respondents the survey found that 78.9 percent did not agree with the plans to mandate filtering at an ISP level for everyone in Australia made by the federal government, with the number who were “strongly” disagreeing at 61.8 percent.
The potential for a drop in broadband performance and an increase in broadband prices as a result of the ISP filtering met with strong opposition from more than 70 percent of Netspace customers.
It was also found that 64.9 percent of respondents said that they wouldn’t sign-up, with a further 26.1 percent saying maybe when Netspace asked if customers would “opt-in” to a clean-feed service. Recent comment made by the government that have suggested that rather than being an opt-in service the clean-feed service would be an opt-out may also be worth noting.
With regards to the filtering system, service provider iiNet have said that it is not currently sure whether it will be asked to participate in the trials and is therefore “unsure” when the trials of the filtering system may start. In a recent newsletter iiNet advised its customers that its “belief is that these trials will only highlight filtering as ineffective in addressing the issue”.
It said “We’re also more than a little concerned with the Government’s failure to clearly outline the level and types of censorship that will apply to subjects other than child pornography, in addition to the impact this filtering could have on internet performance.”
