Australia Censors Free Speech and The Hip Forums!

Discussion in 'Australia' started by skip, Jan 21, 2009.

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  1. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    In case you aren't aware, Australia has now started to censor the Hip Forums. There is a new program underway that is blocking more than 10,000 websites, including this one. This is probably due to the fact that we discuss DRUGS here! horrors!

    There is no Free Speech provision in Australian law so they can censor the Internet, TV, and books all they want, and they certainly do!

    In Queensland it's illegal to sell any books referring to marijuana, including grow books.

    Another website I work on, icmag.com is likewise banned in Australia.

    So if you have ANY illusions that Australia is some kind of "Free Country", get real!

    For more info read this article about Internet Censorship in Australia...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Australia

    If you are an Australian and cannot access this site, you can use a proxy to get around their censorship. So you can see just how effective their efforts are...

    So much for this new Labor government being liberal... yeah right.
     
    skip, Jan 21, 2009
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  3. Bilby

    Bilby Lifetime Supporter and Freerangertarian Super Moderator

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    Skip, you should consider it an honour to be censored :D. I copied pasted the icmac website and found it.
     
    Bilby, Jan 24, 2009
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  5. chemigals

    chemigals They call me Chemi

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    i never knew things were so tight over there,wow!
     
    chemigals, Jan 24, 2009
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  7. FlyingManDan

    FlyingManDan Member

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    I thought the site was just down for the last few days, I had no idea this was already in effect.
     
    FlyingManDan, Feb 2, 2009
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  9. guy

    guy Senior Member

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    i suspect the computer geeks will strike against this soon
     
    guy, Feb 3, 2009
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  11. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    UPDATE:
    674 out of 1370 blocked sites on the mandatory list relate to child pornography; 506 sites would be classified as R18+ or X18+, despite the fact that such content is legal to view in Australia (note this is down from 10,000+ websites supposedly on the original list).

    On 11 February 2009 a new filtering trial was announced, initially with the ISPs iPrimus Telecommunications, Tech 2U, Webshield, OMNIconnect, Netforce and Highway 1. Testing with each ISP will take place for at least six weeks once filtering equipment has been obtained and installed, and iPrimus expects the trial to begin in late April or early May with five or ten thousand participants. The trial will be opt-in, with ISPs asking for voluteers, although all WebShield customers already receive a filtered service. None of the top three ISPs, Telstra, Optus and iiNet, have been included in the trial, although iiNet expects to be involved at a later time.

    If this is the only remaining National internet filter in Australia, one that is opt-in at the user level, then no one should still have a problem accessing this site in Australia, unless your mom opted-in on your behalf! ;)
     
    skip, Feb 17, 2009
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  13. *Heather*

    *Heather* Member

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    thats crazy, i had no idea how tight it was over here, nad i live here. even stranger, i have had no problem with this site at all, to my knowledge, i have been able to access everything, how do you know if something is blocked?
     
    *Heather*, Feb 17, 2009
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  15. MM18

    MM18 Member

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    I only seem to be able to access it randomly, I consider today to be a lucky day. What is the proxy method? It may come in handy!
    Mons~
     
    MM18, Feb 17, 2009
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  17. peaceful_son

    peaceful_son Member

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    Hey guys

    This is the first time i've been able to access this website in about 3 months. Didn't even register that it had something to do with the net filter. I thought maybe the site as having it's own problems etc.

    Good post skip and you're right, australia is NOT free country. I'm disgusted that the government even thought about a filter. I've had a few half-baked plans of moving to canada if this is voted in (not a certainty by the sounds of it) but still.

    Glad i can log onto the forums again, i was starting to miss this place:)

    peace
     
    peaceful_son, Feb 19, 2009
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  19. jamaican_youth

    jamaican_youth Senior Member

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    So that explains it, but wait, why's it working again now?
     
    jamaican_youth, Feb 21, 2009
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  21. peaceful_son

    peaceful_son Member

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    No idea man. I just thought randomly 'i'll check if hip forums works yet' and low and behold it does. I'm with telstra and they aren't involved in the trial (which hasn't begun yet) so i didn't think it was the filter.

    If it is then it is a massive invasion of my rights. Although i remember reading somewhere that australia doesn't have any laws protecting our rights and technically, the government can do whatever the fuck they like and not get in trouble.

    I hope you canadians have room for an aussie, always liked your country (and love ice hockey) so hopefully i can move over there one day soon.

    cheers
     
    peaceful_son, Feb 21, 2009
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  23. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    They dumped the original test plan for a new opt-in plan (opt-in at the USER LEVEL!). So their attempt to censor the net = EPIC FAIL.
     
    skip, Feb 22, 2009
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  25. peaceful_son

    peaceful_son Member

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    haha Epic fail indeed. The general concensus seems to be that eventually the thick headed, stubbourn gov will realise they aren't doing themselves and favours and drop this idea.

    But i wonder. Whats stopping them from trying it again the future when technology has made it easier for them to do so?
    I worry for our rights in the future.

    peace
     
    peaceful_son, Feb 22, 2009
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  27. guy

    guy Senior Member

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    you can get around the web filtering via a proxy as skip has mentioned

    even when i visited syria hip forums weren't blocked !
     
    guy, Feb 23, 2009
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  29. Vanilla Gorilla

    Vanilla Gorilla Go Ape

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    How dense is our government.

    This recent alchopops thing just as bizarre. tax the hell out of Bacardi Breezers, then the kids go out buy bottles of vodka to mix with cordial and no one saw that coming???
     
    Vanilla Gorilla, Apr 11, 2009
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  31. guy

    guy Senior Member

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    hipforums has been slow at this end

    i have noticed that some sites i've tried to access have seemingly been blocked (innocuous sites)

    australia has banned the "whistleblower"website that tells people about whats happenign over here.

    with any luck labour will be kicked out next election.

    any political party that bans free speech can't be trusted.
     
    guy, Apr 11, 2009
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  33. ProfessorG

    ProfessorG Guest

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    ProfessorG, Apr 13, 2009
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  35. TroutLord

    TroutLord Member

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    TroutLord, Apr 13, 2009
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  37. Face Eater

    Face Eater Banned

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    The new "internet watchdog" is a more lenient and better discussed model than the one proposed and tested by the previous government. I personally disagree with it totally, but I prefer Labour to a government that tried to introduce terrifying sedition laws and oppressive labour conditions. I really do prefer this lesser of two evils.
     
    Face Eater, Apr 22, 2009
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  39. LSDMIKE

    LSDMIKE Member

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    oz is trying to do this again
     
    LSDMIKE, Sep 10, 2009
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