Group warns parents will be given a false sense of security by net filter

Plans for the introduction of mandatory internet filtering at Internet Service Provider level by the Federal Government have been attacked by Electronic Frontiers Australia, an Internet advocacy group.

The trialing of the system, which is to block things like illegal material and child pornography, is set to begin soon. These plans, however, will not protect children according to an opinion piece for a popular online news site from Colin Jacobs, the EFA vice chair.

Jacobs said “Material that should be targeted will slip through, and much that should be allowed will be blocked, as the Government’s own tests have demonstrated. The more accurate the filter, the worse the impact on network performance – a slowdown of up to 86 per cent was observed in the same trials. Where does this leave Australian kids? With slower internet and an inaccurate or inappropriate filter. Parents may have a false sense of security, but the real risks remain unaddressed.”

The more pressing dangers that children face on the internet will not be achieved by the filter said Mr Jacobs. He said “These include acts of cyber-bullying, such as the posting of hateful personal remarks or photos in online communities. Viruses, identity theft, and inappropriate chats are all worthy of some parental concern.”

The managing director of the Australian Christian lobby is fully supporting the plans by the Government to introduce the filter. The claims that the trial will prove the filtering system unworkable have been dismissed by Mr Wallace saying that the scheme will protect children from harmful material and is crucial.

In a recent statement Mr Wallace said “The advances in performance and accuracy shown in the Australian Communications and Media Authority trial results internet filtering released in June last year over the previous 2005 NetAlert Ltd trial show that it is both sensible and responsible to continue with the trial process. Our children can only benefit from the rapidly improving technology, including safety features, which are an attribute of the online world.”

As evidence that there is broad support from within the community for the scheme he cited a Newspoll from 2003. He said “A Newspoll commissioned by the Australia Institute in 2003 found that 93 per cent of parents of 12 to 17 year olds were in favour of automatically filtering out internet pornography at ISP level unless adult users asked otherwise.”