[What would you reckon are the chances that AGD and the spook agencies
have used this current 'idea in good standing' / kneejerk to slide in a
few features that they'll be able to use for purposes other than
“extreme violent content” in relation to “crisis events”?]
Govt agrees to ISP-level site-blocking of 'dangerous material'
To create 24/7 centre to monitor 'online crisis events'.
Ry Crozier
itNews
Aug 26 2019
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/govt-agrees-to-isp-level-site-blocking-of-dangerous-material-530104
The government has agreed to formalise arrangements put in place
following the Christchurch terror attack that saw access to online
material associated with the incident blocked within Australia.
A taskforce comprising digital platform owners and major telcos asked
the government last month for formal powers to block websites hosting
“extreme violent content” in relation to “crisis events”.
Telcos blocked websites following the Christchurch attack using somewhat
vague existing powers but asked for more specific rules to rely upon in
future.
The government said Sunday that it would “establish a clear and
unambiguous content blocking framework for crisis events.”
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a statement that the
industry’s cooperation around the Christchurch attack in seeking to
limit Australians in being able to access online material associated
with the attack constituted “a responsible move ... that prioritised the
safety of Australians online.”
“It is important that the government gives the industry the backing it
needs for this type of action, now and into the future,” he said.
Fletcher made a specific distinction in the material being targeted and
sought to separate the government’s action from attempts a decade ago by
the then-Labor government to introduce site-blocking powers.
“The eSafety Commissioner will make ... independent determinations on a
case by case basis to keep Australians safe online while upholding
important internet freedoms,” Fletcher said.
The Government would also update its crisis management framework to
include a “24/7 Crisis Coordination Centre to monitor and notify
relevant government agencies of online crisis events involving terrorist
and extreme violent material”.
This real-time monitoring facility would essentially provide the eSafety
Commissioner and other agencies “with information to undertake rapid
assessments.”
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the idea was to “better equip
our agencies to rapidly detect and shut down the sharing of dangerous
material online, even as a crisis may still be unfolding.”
The government said it could still legislate in the event that digital
platforms did not do enough generally “to improve the safety of their
services, and address the gaps laid bare by the Christchurch terrorist
attacks.”
The shadow assistant minister for communications and cybersecurity,
Labor MP Tim Watts, characterised the blocking announcement as measures
aimed only at curbing "live streaming" of crisis events.
He suggested a deeper level of action was required to target the root
cause of extremism online.
"What’s the government doing to address the Christchurch Call’s
commitment to tackle social media algorithms that drive marginalised
people to violent extremist narratives?" he tweeted.
--
Roger Clarke mailto:roger.cla...@xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916 http://www.xamax.com.au http://www.rogerclarke.com
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science Australian National University
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