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Climbing the List
Mar. 12th, 2010 04:11 pmAustralia's once again made to to the "under surveillance" category of Reporters Without Borders "Enemies of the Internet" list, thanks pretty much entirely to the government's proposed internet censorship system, putting us in the same category as Russia, Turkey and the UAE.
What disturbs me most about the internet censorship scheme is how much it is taking place behind closed doors. The opposition - which normally can't pass up an opportunity to oppose and obstruct the federal government - hasn't said boo. Media coverage is nonexistant or buried in the 'technology' section of newspapers. The plan, it seems, is destined to go from 'under consideration' to 'fait accompli' with no input or discussion by the public in between.
And, of course, if Australia can impliment such a scheme so easily, there is nothing preventing other democractic states from doing the same. Australia would serve as an example that internet censorship is not purely the domain of dictatorships like China or Cuba, but as something not unreasonable or incompatable with liberal democracy.
It is entirely possible that the 2010s will be the decade when the assumption of an unregulated and open internet of the 90s and 00s dies.
What disturbs me most about the internet censorship scheme is how much it is taking place behind closed doors. The opposition - which normally can't pass up an opportunity to oppose and obstruct the federal government - hasn't said boo. Media coverage is nonexistant or buried in the 'technology' section of newspapers. The plan, it seems, is destined to go from 'under consideration' to 'fait accompli' with no input or discussion by the public in between.
And, of course, if Australia can impliment such a scheme so easily, there is nothing preventing other democractic states from doing the same. Australia would serve as an example that internet censorship is not purely the domain of dictatorships like China or Cuba, but as something not unreasonable or incompatable with liberal democracy.
It is entirely possible that the 2010s will be the decade when the assumption of an unregulated and open internet of the 90s and 00s dies.