Asia-Pacific

Australia to delay Internet filter plan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-09 13:54

CANBERRA - Australian federal government on Friday again delayed the introduction of its proposed mandatory internet filter while a review of classified material has been undertaken.

Related readings:  Google, Yahoo criticize Australian Internet filter  Filter 'no threat' to users' privacy  Schools urged to filter online information  Govt delays order on porn filter software

Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy said some people are obviously concerned about whether current classified material reflected community views.

Legislation to impose mandatory Internet filtering would therefore be delayed until the review was completed, Senator Conroy said.

Senator Conroy announced on Friday that Telstra, Optus and Primus would block a list of child abuse Internet addresses, compiled by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

However, representatives from Telstra and Optus would not say unequivocally whether they supported the government's proposed Internet filter.

The telecommunications agreed to block child porn material from being accessed by Australian Internet users while that review of Refused Classification (RC) content was under way.

Labor Party's moves to block access to material such as child pornography and other illegal content have been criticized by some of the world's largest providers of Internet services including Google and Yahoo.

Senator Conroy remained adamant that the Internet filter proposal did not amount to censorship.

"I don't think any Australian actually tries to describe blocking child pornography or bestiality or pro-rape websites as censorship," Senator Conroy told reporters in Melbourne.

RC content includes child abuse material, bestiality, rape and other extreme violence and terrorist acts.