and here I thought the US was puritan!!!!

Kevin Robert Dean qualiall at union.org.za
Tue Mar 4 20:21:15 PST 2003


Internet porn filters may become compulsory March 5 2003 By Annabel Crabb

Internet pornography filters could be fitted automatically to every home computer after an undertaking from Prime Minister John Howard to revisit laws regarding X-rated online content.

In an implicit acknowledgement that the fledgling anti-pornography laws are ineffective, Mr Howard told Coalition colleagues yesterday that he and Communications Minister Richard Alston were discussing ways of strengthening the legislation.

Senator Alston confirmed yesterday that the Government was considering forcing internet service providers to fit filters automatically to protect children and families from unwanted pornographic images.

"There is a lot to be said for taking another look at whether we should expect more from ISPs," he told the Senate.

The change would mean that people opening internet accounts would be supplied with filters to screen out pornographic sites unless they opted out.

The Australia Institute research group yesterday called for stronger laws, after its release on Monday of a study saying 84 per cent of teenage boys had been exposed to online sex sites. Director Clive Hamilton described the existing legislation as "next to useless".

The Government passed laws banning internet pornography in 1999 at the request of Tasmanian independent Senator Brian Harradine, an anti-porn activist whose vote was needed to secure the second-tranche Telstra sale. But the legislation relies on complaints from the public; filter software has to be requested by the consumer from providers. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/04/1046540188131.html --- Sent from UnionMail Service [http://mail.union.org.za]



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