[The Register] Great Aussie firewall claims first victim

1878 Views 46 Replies 26 Participants Last post by NrGx, Mar 19, 2009

NrGx

Discussion Starter · Mar 18, 2009

Quote:

The great Australian Firewall might be struggling to make political progress, but regulators are already using its blacklist to threaten local websites with fines.

Broadband discussion forum Whirlpool was threatened with an A$11,000 (Â£5,148) a day fine by the Australian Communications and Media Authority because a commenter posted a link to an anti-abortion website which appeared on the regulator's list of websites banned in Australia.

The takedown notice was sent to Whirlpool's hosting service Bulletproof Networks. Bulletproof contacted Whirlpool which agreed to remove the web link.

But the story gets murkier - ACMA added the website to its secret blacklist after receiving a complaint about one page on the site from someone in Melbourne with the user name Foad.

Foad's intention was to highlight the stupidity of the blacklist idea by getting a site which had nothing to do with child sexual abuse added to the list. Foad succeeded.

The blacklist is meant to be a well-guarded secret but complainants are free to make public the result of their complaints. So the URL which Foad complained about was published in forums to highlight the lunacy of ACMA's actions.

There's more in the Whirlpool forums here. Â®

Woah, so now the forum gets a fine for a poster posting a link that was previously never even banned?

Source

Here is what Whirlpool forums are talking about now.

For those who don't know by the way, Whirlpool is the end all be all of internet forums in Australia.

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1 - 20 of 47 Posts

OpTicaL

· #2 · Mar 18, 2009

Internet de-neutralization has started.

Bartmasta

· #3 · Mar 18, 2009

I'm guessing foad in this case meant

**** off and die

minus.fireal

· #4 · Mar 18, 2009

Censorship never works, it just creates a black market.

003

· #5 · Mar 18, 2009

What's the link of this banned website and what particular forum was it posted in? I've got an account to make and some threads to post.

NrGx

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 18, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003

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What's the link of this banned website and what particular forum was it posted in? I've got an account to make and some threads to post.

The link to the forum is in the OP. Apparently it was a page with pictures of abortions and the ACMA deemed it inappropriate for adult eyes. I sure hope they don't ever go to 4chan.

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nugget

· #7 · Mar 18, 2009

Wow so its begun how freaking stupid is this crap, seriously *** are these people thinking its just ludacris.

dieanotherday

· #8 · Mar 18, 2009

Australia is an experiment.

003

· #9 · Mar 18, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by NrGx

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The link to the forum is in the OP. Apparently it was a page with pictures of abortions and the ACMA deemed it inappropriate for adult eyes. I sure hope they don't ever go to 4chan.

Ok, got the forum. Anybody know that the blacklisted website was though?

I'm gonna have myself some fun. Tinyurl to the rescue!

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Twinnuke

· #10 · Mar 18, 2009

I agree, Australia is the experiment of the world to see what works and what doesnt when it comes to the human race.

K3VL4R

· #11 · Mar 18, 2009

ACMA - Australian Communications and Media Authority

Well it all makes sense now. This is the new RIAA from down under. They will tell you it is for the peoples protection, but if these clowns had things their way we would be paying for sections of the internet just like you would pay for different packages for TV service. The information that they did not want you to know or be able to access would be nonexistent to the users.
I am surprised that Alex Jones hasn't made a video about all of this crap already.(feel free to insert your tin foil hat comments here) The fact remains that he is like INQ or FUD in that some of the stuff is hard to believe but a lot of the time turns out to be correct.

Gr3m1in

· #12 · Mar 18, 2009

Personally im extremely disgusted in Whirlpool for actually removing it and not fighting it and sticking it to the ACMA

my opinion of Whirlpool has VASTLY changed now

Jarhead

· #13 · Mar 18, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by K3VL4R

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ACMA - Australian Communications and Media Authority

I am surprised that Alex Jones hasn't made a video about all of this crap already.(feel free to insert your tin foil hat comments here) The fact remains that he is like INQ or FUD in that some of the stuff is hard to believe but a lot of the time turns out to be correct.

Actually AJ has mentioned it continuously lately. Ever since he had the "Conspiracy Hunters" in studio for an interview. Bottom line, if the Aussies are willing to put up with this, they deserve what they get. Same as the rest of us, really.

EDIT:Oh what the heck.....

SXSW 2009: Everday Conspiracies with Alex Jones
http://www.ifc.com/videos/sxsw-2009-...alex-jones.php

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Reactions: 1

quakermaas

· #14 · Mar 19, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gr3m1in

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Personally im extremely disgusted in Whirlpool for actually removing it and not fighting it and sticking it to the ACMA

my opinion of Whirlpool has VASTLY changed now

"The takedown notice was sent to Whirlpool's hosting service Bulletproof Networks"

Whirlpool might not of had a choice here, Bulletproof Networks might of had to pull the plugs on the site if Whirlpool didn't do what they were told.

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Slogga

· #15 · Mar 19, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twinnuke

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I agree, Australia is the experiment of the world to see what works and what doesnt when it comes to the human race.

You are either extremely ignorant, or a moron.

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czin125

· #16 · Mar 19, 2009

why keep the blacklist a secret?

HowHardCanItBe

· #17 · Mar 19, 2009

Huh? Wow, this country gets even more stranger. Guess, I was right about it.

lol, I was just on the phone with ACMA

.

EDIT...Just realised kind of a repost.

http://www.overclock.net/software-ne...-cost-you.html

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quakermaas

· #18 · Mar 19, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003

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Ok, got the forum. Anybody know that the blacklisted website was though?

I'm gonna have myself some fun. Tinyurl to the rescue!

http://www.somebodythinkofthechildre...tion-web-page/

look here and you will find the page easy enough.

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Gr3m1in

· #19 · Mar 19, 2009

boys and girls the list of banned sites was leaked by wikileaks heres a news article on it

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/...e#contentSwap1

Quote:

But about half of the sites on the list are not related to child porn and include a slew of online poker sites, YouTube links, regular gay and straight porn sites, Wikipedia entries, euthanasia sites, websites of fringe religions such as satanic sites, fetish sites, Christian sites, the website of a tour operator and even a Queensland dentist.

HowHardCanItBe

· #20 · Mar 19, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gr3m1in

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boys and girls the list of banned sites was leaked by wikileaks heres a news article on it

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/...e#contentSwap1

Wow!

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