The government-led project to block all sites deemed as inappropriate to children has continued with a number of interesting developments in the last few weeks. First Wikileaks listed the blocked site list on their website ( and were then duly blocked themselves!!! ). Now a group have hacked the Aus Classification Board’s website.
For a little bit of history, the Aussie government spent $116 mill on internet filtering software which was easily circumvented by children. This after a study which said that ISP-level filtering was not feasible. The government then decided to spend another $89 mill on a blacklist ISP-level scheme developed by the Aus Communication and Media Authority.
The filtering scheme has continually been problematic with non-pornographic websites being listed including that of a dentist’s. Perhaps the Aus government should, instead of burying their heads in the sand, a. acknowledge that they are following China’s lead in censoring their citizens and freedoms and/or b. just cut the damn cables.
