Taken from the Sydney Morning Herald

Telcos volunteer to help police piracy

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/telcos-volunteer-to-help-police-piracy-20111127-1o1hc.html#ixzz1exVrGtwy

I know things have become increasingly political here over time, but legislative changes are afoot the world over that threaten our favoured pastime and worse still, threaten the key factors in ensuring the ongoing efficacy of the internet itself… freedom and neutrality.

I thought I’d take the opportunity to share political songwriter Dan Bull’s message for the British parliament regarding their Digital Economy Bill…

If you are tempted to assume these issues are not important, it’s worth noting that in both cases (British DEB and Australian filter) it’s currently technically impossible for illegal internet use to be blocked without affecting legal internet use. Also keep in mind that it’s a slippery slope from blocking illegal use to blocking “inconvenient” use.

At the very least these issues cannot be glossed over, they deserve careful consideration so that policy can successfully address the core issues rather than rushing to take expensive and ineffective token actions.

It seems that the British are stuck with their new legislation (at least for now), but us Aussies still have a chance to avoid this (well-intentioned) mistake. Progress on the filter legislation has been delayed until after the election but it seems likely that if the Government is voted back into power, this new legislation will go ahead.

Whatever your views on these issues, I urge you to stay informed and participate in discussion and consultation when opportunities arise. And while it’s not wise to vote based on a single issue, factor this one in when you make your voice heard on voting day!

I’ve ranted about this before, but I feel it’s important…

The internet is based on the premise of a distributed communication network that embodies the concept of “free speech”. Filtered internet is NOT INTERNET, it’s a cruel mimic, presenting only a pale twisted reflection of the open net. Alright, less poetry, more facts:

The filter list was leaked last year, and as suspected, it features sites that don’t contain illegal material. In fact it features sites such as wikileaks.org that serve content designed to keep Governments and large corporations honest. Apparently I could be fined $11,000 (a day) just for linking to them. Did I fall asleep and wake up in an Orwell novel, or in North Korea!! This is a clear sign that the internet filter has sinister potential.

Unfortunately, we’ve just missed a round of public consultation. The good news is, all of the submissions I have read look well thought out and justifiably negative. The community at large has been mobilised, and the rest of the “free world” have raised similar concerns.

I just hope the Federal Government is listening.