Australia, Where The Internet Is Censored

[Amadeus]

South Australian Government gags internet debate

 

South Australia has become one of the few states in the world to censor the internet.

 

The new law, which came into force on January 6, requires anyone making an online comment about next month's state election to publish their real name and postcode.

 

The law will affect anyone posting a comment on an election story on The Advertiser's AdelaideNow website, as well as other Australian news sites.

 

It could also apply to election comment made on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

 

The law, which was pushed through last year as part of a raft of amendments to the Electoral Act and supported by the Liberal Party, also requires media organisations to keep a person's real name and full address on file for six months, and they face fines of $5000 if they do not hand over this information to the Electoral Commissioner.

 

Phew..lucky we don't have that here, otherwise I'd be in real trouble if I told you that ............... MHK likes to ............. while ................... in the evening

[Cronky]

They have also got the idea of censoring the Internet in the Isle of Man:

 

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009

 

1. The Department is aware of the alarm or distress that can be caused to individuals through the improper use of the public telecommunications system and for that reason has determined to increase the maximum sentence for improper use of the public telecommunications system from £2,500 to £5,000 (clause 14, page 47). You are invited to comment on whether you consider the increase in maximum sentence to £5,000 is sufficient.

 

Further to this proposed change the Department is considering whether or not legislation should be introduced specifically to make it an offence to use social networking sites, such as Facebook, improperly or otherwise in such a manner as to cause another person alarm or distress or give them reason to feel harassed. There are significant legislative difficulties associated with the fact that offenders may not reside in the Island or the website may be established and hosted in another jurisdiction.

 

Furthermore, there are already provisions in law to address conduct which amounts to harassment or defamation and this consultation refers to new provisions to prohibit the use of words or behaviour or display of written material for the purposes of stirring up hatred of other persons on various grounds.

 

You are invited to comment on whether or not you consider improper use of social networking sites should be regulated by law specifically or whether current legal provisions dealing with inappropriate conduct are sufficient?

 

If you consider there should be specific laws to address improper use of these kinds of sites in the Island, you are invited to suggest what should be regulated and indicate how you think such regulation would work in practice. Any such proposals would need to take into account the right of an individual to have freedom of expression as set out under section 11 of the Human Rights Act 2001.

 

If they had the chance to censor the Internet in the Isle of Man I am sure the Government would jump at the opportunity.