Filtering of ISPs picks up pace

Plans to place content filters at internet service provider level by the federal government looks to be even more likely as they begin live trialing next month.

A spokesperson for Stephen Conroy, the communications Minister, said that the search by the government for ISPs to take part in live trials will occur in the later part of October. To truly evaluate the cost of the Rudd Labor government’s internet filtering program it is essential that ISPs volunteer to take part in the testing of this system.

The $125.8 million that the government has allocated as a part of the federal budget is to be used over the next four years for the filtering program and a variety of other internet security initiatives. The online law enforcement is set to receive $49 million from this budget. However, only part of this will be for the web filtering and the rest used for education programs, research, and international collaboration. How much of the funding will actually go to the filtering project is currently not known and neither is the amount that will come out of the taxpayer’s pocket for the internet censorship.

It is believed by some observers from the industry that because the early indications of cost could be as much as $60 million a year the users of the internet themselves may have to pay any shortfall.

The closed trial testing of the web filtering products was completed in June by the Enex Testlab at the Telstra laboratory in Tasmania. In the review of the web filtering products twenty six were tested but of these only six were considered suitable for the project. The parameters under which the trial took place were laid down when Helen Coonan was communications minister under the last government.

A month after testing Senator Conroy claimed that within the conditions of closed-environment testing the test was a success. Unfortunately, most of the test results were negative and amongst other things showed that the filters were unable to pick up on inappropriate or illegal content as defined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. An example of the failing was where instant messaging services would allow this kind of content through. The live trialing, however, is still due to go ahead by the end of this year due to the EOI being released in the second half of October.