“This is an Attack on Freedom of Speech” screams the headline on Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s popular new blog.
Stephen Conroy's New Blog
I realise the Minister is new to blogging, but is that wise?
Many busy Australians these days, stressed out and dumbed down by a lifetime of News Corp reading fodder, never get beyond the headline.
Ah. Now we get it. The webpage, presumably drafted by Conroy’s Hollowmen, is intended to rebut the accusation, made by some critics of the Australian Government’s compulsory Internet censorship proposal, that it’s fundamentally an attack on free speech.
On careful reading, Minister Conroy definitely seems to claim it’s NOT an Attack on Freedom of Speech. But why does he use such obscure language to say this?
This is what Senator Conroy blogged yesterday. I’ve made a few corrections, using red ink:
As we have said in our main post, the Government does not view the ISP filtering debate as an argument about freedom of speech. (DELETE AND REPLACE WITH: The Government has NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER to use any scheme introduced to control access to pornography for any kind of political cesnorship – and will legislate to give force to this pledge BEFORE seeking to implement any changes to internet access)
Freedom of speech is fundamentally important in a democratic society and there was never any suggestion that the Australian Government would seek to block political content. (DELETE AND REPLACE WITH: The numerous suggestions that the Australian Government might seek to block political content on the Internet are baseless, but we will legislate to quell any doubts – see above). In this context, claims that the Government’s policy is analogous to the approach taken by countries such as Iran, China and Saudi Arabia are not justified. (DELETE AND REPLACE WITH: Australians can be assured that this Government will safeguard Australians’ right to free speech – both on and off the Internet – consistent with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Great TV - couldn't possibly be accurate
Australian society has always accepted that there is some material which is not acceptable, particularly for children. That is why we have the National Classification Scheme for classifying films, computer games, publications and online content. Australian ISPs are already subject to regulation that prohibits the hosting of certain material based upon the Scheme. For many years, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has had the power to issue a ‘take-down’ notice requiring that prohibited content hosted in Australia be removed, blocked from public access or hosted from behind a restricted access system, depending on the content involved. All the Government is now seeking to do is to examine how technology can assist in filtering internationally-hosted content. (DELETE AND REPLACE WITH: The Government has noted widespread opposition to our initial proposals for introducing compulsory Internet censorship. We therefore propose to commission more research and carry out more consultation on this important issue. We hold open the possibility of a Senate Inquiry. The Internet is vital to Australia‘s future. The Rudd Government is responsive to informed public comment. Unlike our opponents, we alway put the public interest first in telecommunications policy. Through our enlightened, consultatative approach to governance in this new technological era, we will secure a better future for all Australian working families, including their nerdy children).
– Stephen Conroy
If the Minister will let me have a go as his blog editor, I’ll do it for a dollar a year like a modern Detroit CEO.
I think it’s time he spruiks up the design, too. Very boring. Where are the holiday snaps? Where’s the family dog? What about a poll or two – and a few good jokes?
