Australia to Halt ISP Filtering Program

WASHINGTON July 19, 2010 - Australia will stop the rollout of their controversial ISP filtering program. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has stated that the program is currently being re-reviewed.

The filter would block Refused Classification content which includes child pornography, bestiality, extreme violence, terrorist activities, and drug use.  “The RC content list of URLs provides direct access to child abuse material so it cannot be published the way a list of prohibited book titles or movies can be,” Senator Conroy said.

Three  of the nation’s largest ISPs, Telstra, Optus, Primus,  have agreed to block child abuse material based on a list of URLs created by  Australian Communications and Media Authority.