Toby's journal

Now here is something you DO need to see:
The aussie blacklist! (circa August 2008, so a bit out of date by now, but still gives you a good idea of what to expect)

Note the inclusion of some poker sites, some 4chan-related sites, etc.

So, the "live" internet filteringcensorship trials are going to start in the next month or two.
I noticed that some of the trials include the filtering of peer-to-peer traffic (ie. BitTorrent, soulseek, etc), which the govt has said it wants to be able to do.

Does anyone have some more info on that aspect of the filtering?
I'm curious to know how they will be able to tell if the content is "illegal or unrated" content. To some degree I think it would be very easy for them to default to "unrated" if they can't tell, and then to block it - since after all, even if you're just downloading Top Gear from the UK, if it hasn't been released in Australia yet then it would be "unrated" here since the ACMA hasn't classified it.

But mainly, I'm curious to know what sort of filters exist that can operate on something like BT where there are so many small, randomly ordered packets flying around; currently BT operates on TCP but the newer versions are already moving to UDP.

Also - how is it possible for filters operating at that level to NOT cripple the performance? :(

[Edit: Have found this article on filtering bittorrents.]

We're managing to hit the mainstream press now, with largely favourable stories:
Eg:

http://blogs.smh.com.au/gadgetsonthego/archives/2008/10/australias_big_brother_interne.html

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2406365.htm

Keep up the pressure! Write to your MP if you haven't already!

and remember:
Protest Rally, Saturday 1st November
in your capital city, midday tomorrow, at Parliament house.

For those of you living under a rock lately, you need to know that the Australia government is going to implement mandatory filtering of the Internet feeds into Australia. Exactly like China and Burma already do.

Initially this filter is going to block pornography, child pornography, and terror information; however once it is in place, there is nothing to stop the government from secretly adding more to their Block List. Criticism against the government? People blowing the whistle on dodgy govt deals? Protest plans? All those BitTorrents of TV shows you love but aren't shown on time here?

All these things could be disappearing from your search results like they never even existed, and attempts to access URLs could result in ASIO knocking on your door in the night..

Do you want to let something like this get snuck into law, while we're all distracted by the current financial crisis, and scared by the war on terror?

NO!

You *need* to let your government representatives know this has to stop.

PLEASE look up your local MP, and write them a short letter - if you don't have time to post it, then just write them an email at least! Encourage your MP to work to cancel the plan -- it's already under way now, with live trials on some random ISPs coming in very soon.
Don't wait until it's too late!

Even if you're living overseas currently, if you're an Aussie citizen, you are still eligible to vote here, so make your opinion known to those in power!
It'll only take ten minutes - do it today!

See http://nocleanfeed.com or http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/cens1.html for details..

thanks,
Toby