http://www.theage.com.au/national/labors-blogwatch-plan-hits-whirlpool-of-dissent-20090321-951z.html
Labor's (liberal left) blog-watch plan hits Whirlpool of dissent
- Josh Gordon
- March 22, 2009
THE Government will begin trawling blog sites as part of a new media monitoring strategy, with documents singling out a website critical of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy for special mention.
Soon after Senator Conroy praised Singapore's Government for reducing monitoring of blogs, tender documents issued by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy reveal it is looking for a "comprehensive digital monitoring service for print and electronic media".
The department later attached a clarification confirming the term "electronic media" included "blogs such as Whirlpool".
http://whirlpool.net.au/Whirlpool, the only blog site mentioned, has criticised Senator Conroy's plans to filter internet content and his handling of the Government's $15 billion national broadband network. It is a community-run internet forum devoted to discussing broadband internet access.
Senator Conroy this month told a conference in Germany that it was a "really positive sign" that the Singaporean Government had given up monitoring blogs.
But the documents suggest the Australian Government is just about to start. Senator Conroy's spokesman said it was "only natural" that the tender include services for monitoring relevant blogs.
"Whirlpool is a long-established online platform for news and information covering a wide range of topics across the telecommunications sector," the spokesman said. "It and other websites provide valuable insight into the industries in which we work."
Opposition communications spokesman Nick Minchin claimed it was "extreme" and an unacceptable use of taxpayers' money to expand media monitoring to blogs.
"The minister has been caught out telling an important international audience one thing, while at the same time putting the wheels in motion back home to use taxpayers' money to do the complete opposite," Senator Minchin said.
A spokesman for the department said it had used Whirlpool as an example of a blog site that might be monitored because a prospective bidder for the contract had asked for a clarification.
Hi..this is just absolute bullshit that we are going to be monitored. I know for a fact that it is happening in Malaysia - I have a 'net friend' and he has friends who have already found out the consequences of speaking against islam. My friend also knows he has to be careful. They cannot order any books or DVD's like the book PIG to islam or the DVD...what the west needs to know about islam...both excellent.from overseas as they know customs will find them and then they will really be in for it. I hate the thought that i will not be able to access my fav blogs, newsletters etc all in the name of islam. Why is is that we can be charged with insulting islam but they can call us all the apes and pigs and the women sluts etc?
ReplyDeleteI like your Blog, Dave. good stuff.
Regards...Christian Nanna
Hi CN, thanks very much for your encouragement, I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteThere is only three true reason why this government wants to censor the internet, power and control and greed.
They want to control what people read and watch, which is, anything that is in line with their agenda is considered suitable, everything else is inappropriate content.
They also want to make the internet more profitable for their corporate masters, so internet freedom is unacceptable. For example, they would make you pay for every email in the same sort of fashion as regular mail, if they could.
And as always, whoever controls the information (knowledge), has the power.
I like your blog too CN, great work, keep it up, we shall overcome. :-)