WARNING ABOUT REFERENCING

After copying my notes from word, I found that the web page doesn’t recognise superscript font formatting. This means my footnoting has been effected, the numbers within the essay are my footnoting but aren’t sitting correctly.

Olivia.

The Internet Censorship proposal: Clean Feed.

The Internet has become an important part of everyday life throughout the world. Nevertheless, it has also created a breeding place for numerous threats including identity theft, unauthorised publishing of photos and videos, computer and Internet addiction, personal information being accessed by strangers, cyber bullying, harmful viruses such as ‘trojan’ (it hides within software programs disguising itself as an important application and has the capability to steal important personal information) and ‘phishing attacks’ (the copying of existing websites which are used to steal peoples personal and financial information as well as passwords)1 2 3. It is due to these threats that the Australian Government, specifically Kevin Rudd’s labor party, has put forward a proposal for Clean Feed. Clean Feed will be implemented to eliminate selected sites from the Internet that do not adhere to Australian Media Casting Authority (ACMA) standards in an attempt to make the Internet safer to use4.

Clean Feed as it has unofficially been named will directly affect “all households… schools and other public Internet points” due to Internet Service Provider(s) (ISP) and Internet Content Host(s) (ICH) mandatory compliance with Internet blocking systems5. As aforementioned, the blocking of sites will be in accordance with ACMA standards which has created a ‘blacklist’ of prohibited content6. Prohibited content is classified under R18 (information harmful or disturbing to under 18s which only applies in Australia), X18 (material that is non violent, but sexually explicit) and RC (Refused Classification). Material found on the Internet cannot be prohibited unless it is placed within one of these categories7. Although classifications seem sufficient, the government’s failure to provide the public with a complete list of goals for the clean feed leaves society unable to calculate whether the overall proposal is feasible8. It is also further questioned to what extent societies’ values, attitudes and beliefs will be taken into consideration in this Clean Feed. Australia hosts a wide range of cultural backgrounds and therefore values and beliefs which may create further friction in this already delicate proposal9.

Clean Feed as a system, will operate on two filtering levels known as ‘black list filtering’ and ‘content filtering’. Black list filtering will require all ISP(s) to provide content filtering to all homes, schools, libraries and public internet points which can be used by children10 11. This filtering will be in conjunction with the AMCA black list, in addition it will be made illegal to work around these restrictions12. This filtering will only operate on Uniform Resource Locator(s) (URL), and cannot block content from peer to peer systems, encrypted channels, chatrooms, MSN instant messaging and mobiles13 14. Whilst this system will ensure that a certain amount of materials will be made prohibited throughout the web, this will not entirely eliminate the passing of inappropriate, explicit, dangerous or threatening information. Therefore the circulation of such content will continue, together with a rise in attempts to ‘bypass Internet censorship devices’ through tools such as GPass, GTunnel and Freegate which are specifically created to infiltrate systems such as Clean Feed15.

With this in mind, ‘content filtering’ will create an opportunity for further censorship of the Internet for R rated materials. However, this is not a mandatory form of filtering as the materials which are not illegal, rather more suitable for adults than children can be avoided legally. This provides an advantage for families as they can control the extent to which their entire family is censored on the Internet16.

Despite valid concerns regarding safe Internet use, there are a number of problems that will come with the implementation of Clean Feed. Problems include further slowing down the Internet by approximately 80%17. This alone will cause significant difficulties for businesses and workplaces relying on the Internet to carry out daily work demands. Furthermore it will place greater strain on teachers, students in schools and universities who already work with slow Internet connections18. In addition it is estimated 10,000 legal sites will be blocked to every million and the government has not yet put forward proposals to remedy this19. This could ultimately damage the quality of information found on the Internet, as wading through irrelevant and unreliable sources occurs every time you run searches, without legal sources being blocked. Maintaining the ‘black list’ is a problem in itself, both adding to and rectifying incorrect black listings is a task that will take a great degree of organization and thoroughness which cannot be promised or ensured20.

Although Clean Feed would be enforced to primarily protect children, it will undoubtedly affect all Internet users. With this in mind, it seems necessary to outline programs which are readily available for families around Australia to filter the Internet and therefore create a safer Internet environment for Australia’s younger generation. Content Filters include but are not restricted to Optenet PC Filter, Net Nanny, Content Keeper Web, Safe Eyes, My Child My Values, Surf Control Web, iShield Plus, K9 Web Protection and URL Filtering Module, all of which protect different age groups ranging from under ten year olds to fifteen year olds and over21.

It is clear that despite the aforementioned programs being implemented and available this has not entirely disrupted the threats encountered when using the Internet. However, it has also been put forward in the Clean Feed proposal that children should be educated about cyber safety upon first contact with computers22. If the Government was to concentrate on this aspect specifically, instead of implementing internet censorship that will further slow down Internet access and not sufficiently block all illegal material, they would be able to better protect the children of Australia (which they have indicated as a major concern). Education is the best tool in creating awareness and prevention so this would be a key step in creating greater Internet safety. In providing this education not only could youths learn how to safely use the Internet, but adults would become more aware of the importance of safety programs. This awareness alone would undoubtedly trigger the use of more Internet safety programs, which would reduce threats to Internet users and more specifically children.

Once again it is clear that this would not entirely eliminate threats which are prominent on the Internet, however this is a commonality that is shared with the filtering system in the Clean Feed proposal itself. Realistically and as research has shown the complete elimination of illegal materials will not occur. Therefore, the Australian Government should reconsider spending an estimated 24.3 million dollars on a system, which will only slow down and create further faults to the Internet23. A better approach to the Internet censorship issue, would be to concentrate on properly educating the Australian public on cybersafety. This means cybersafety programs, information and initiatives should be marketed widely to the Australian public in order to promote and ensure an ongoing practice of Internet safety and control, whilst minimising damage to the internet.

References:
1. Conroy Stephen 2007, Labor’s Plan for Cybersafety, pg 1-8.

2. Webopedia n.d, phishing, http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/phishing.html

3. Tech-faq n.d, What is a Trojan Horse Virus, http://www.tech-faq.com/trojan-

4. Electronic Frontiers Australia n.d, Labors Mandatory Internet Blocking System, http://www.efa.org.au/censorship/mandatory-isp-blocking/#SS_1

5. Electronic Frontiers Australia n.d, Labors Mandatory Internet Blocking System, http://www.efa.org.au/censorship/mandatory-isp-blocking/#SS_1

6. Electronic Frontiers Australia n.d, Labors Mandatory Internet Blocking System, http://www.efa.org.au/censorship/mandatory-isp-blocking/#SS_1

7. Watt Renee, Vaile David 2009, Inspecting the Despicable, Assessing the Unacceptable: Prohibited Packets and the Great Firewall of Canberra, paper 35.

8. Larme Anthony 2001, How to IMPROVE Australia’s Internet Content Regulation System: A Joint ACS/ ALIA Policy Proposal to the Federal Government, ITN330: Information Issues and Values.

9. Conroy Stephen 2007, Labor’s Plan for Cybersafety, pg 1-8.

10. Maurushat Alana, Watt Renee 2009, Clean Feed: Australia’s Internet Proposal, paper 7.

11. Maurushat Alana, Watt Renee 2009, Clean Feed: Australia’s Internet Proposal, Paper 7.

12. Maurushat Alana, Watt Renee 2009, Clean Feed: Australia’s Internet Proposal, paper 7.

13. Henninger Maureen 2003, The Hidden Web: Finding quality information on the net, University of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney.

14. Smart Jason, Tedeschi Kyle, Meakins Daniel, Hannay Peter, Bolan Christopher 2008, Subverting National Internet Censorship - An Investigation into existing Tools and Techniques.

15. Maurushat Alana, Watt Renee 2009, Clean Feed: Australia’s Internet Proposal, paper 7.

16. Electronic Frontiers Australia, No Clean Feed, Stop Internet Censorship In Australia, http://nocleanfeed.com/learn.html

17. Grayson Ian 2008, The Dangers of Web Filtering, http://www.hydrapinion.com/index.php/work/2008/01/07/the_dangers_of_web_filtering

18. Electronic Frontiers Australia, No Clean Feed, Stop Internet Censorship In Australia, http://nocleanfeed.com/learn.html

19. Internet Industry Association 2008, Guide For Internet Users, 1.

http://www.iia.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=416&Itemid=9#list_of_filters.

20. Conroy Stephen 2007, Labor’s Plan for Cybersafety, pg 1-8.

21. News.com.au 2008, Internet ‘clean feed’ useless – group, http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,23703848-421,00.html

Bibliography for Clean Feed Essay.

Australian Government 2009, Cybersmart Parents, http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents.aspx

Australian Government 2009, Cybersmart Schools, http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Schools.aspx

Conroy Stephen 2007, Labor’s Plan for Cybersafety, pg 1-8.

Electronic Frontiers Australia n.d, Internet Censorship Laws in Australia, http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/cens1.html#prohib

Electronic Frontiers Australia n.d, Labors Mandatory Internet Blocking System, http://www.efa.org.au/censorship/mandatory-isp-blocking/#SS_1

Grayson Ian 2008, The Dangers of Web Filtering, http://www.hydrapinion.com/index.php/work/2008/01/07/the_dangers_of_web_filtering

Henninger Maureen 2003, The Hidden Web: Finding quality information on the net, University of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney.

Internet Industry Association 2008, Guide For Internet Users,
http://www.iia.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=416&Itemid=9#list_of_filters

Larme Anthony 2001, How to Improve Australia’s Internet Content Regulation System: A Joint ACS/ ALIA Policy Proposal to the Federal Government, ITN330: Information Issues and Values.

Maurushat Alana, Watt Renee 2009, Clean Feed: Australia’s Internet Proposal, Paper 7.

News.com.au 2008, Internet ‘clean feed’ useless – group, http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,23703848-421,00.html

Smart Jason, Tedeschi Kyle, Meakins Daniel, Hannay Peter, Bolan Christopher 2008, Subverting National Internet Censorship - An Investigation into existing Tools and Techniques, Unacceptable: Prohibited Packets and the Great Firewall of Canberra, Paper 35.

Tech-faq n.d, What is a Trojan Horse Virus, http://www.tech-faq.com/trojan-horse-virus.shtml

Watt Renee, Vaile David 2009, Inspecting the Despicable, Assessing the Unacceptable: Prohibited Packets and the Great Firewall of Canberra, Paper 35.

My essay.

Research, research, research....those have been my movements for the essay so far and with these movements comes a new plane of attack. So I have now chosen to outline the importance of the internet throughout the world and how it has become something that is used daily.

Outline although it is useful it carries the following threats.....i.e cyber bullying, identity theft.

The above will lead into why the government has put forward the proposal for Clean Feed and define what it will do.

Elaborate on how the system will operate....looking at ratings etc and outlining positive/negative that can be seen in these.

Outline the overall concerns about Clean Feed....the slowing of the internet by up to 80%, the incorrect blocking of sites etc.

Outline what is already available (programs and educational websites) and how these could be improved and worked with instead of implementing clean feed.

Outline what benefits would come of using the above alternatives.

Reiterate why Clean Feed should not be implemented.

So there is my new plan of attack after doing research.

More Essay Info....

InternetCensorhipLaws

The link above holds information on Commonwealth Law and State and Territory Criminal Laws in regards to the censorhip of the internet. I think this will be a valuable source in my essay.

I will be able to see some of the legislation that is currently in force and how the classification process works. There is also a link to look to the definition of prohibited content. Will be very helpful.

Report

This site hosts a report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority on developments in internet filtering technologies and other measures for promoting online safety.

Cybersafety

This is a fact sheet from the election in 07 looking at issues such as online identity theft, cyber-bullying and computer addiction, although there are more covered. Another source which will help with my essay.

Censorship

This site looks at other applications that can be used to make the internet safer and how internet censorship by the government is chipping away at free speech via the internet.

Also Borrowing out of library-

Exploring the Internet: A Technical Travelogue

Protect Your Privacy on the Internet

The Hidden Web

Internet Ethics

My Moon My Man-Feist

I really like this song and thought I would check out the film clip. It is not exactly what I expected from listening to the song, but I still liked it. It's quirky in a way.

(H-Ref 1).

Reference:

H-Ref 1: Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uSJsJ5Fl5s
Accessed: Thursday October 8, 2009.

Clean Feed Info

http://nocleanfeed.com/learn.html

This site is a great starting point which has helped me to wrap my head around what clean feed is and what I should be researching.

From this site I know I need to research how clean feed will work as in how will the government decide what is appropriate to be seen on the internet, how accurately will clean feed block sites-what will the government do when they block the wrong sites.

These are just starting points for research. I may not answer all of these questions, but a starting point is important.