Orcon refuses to install govt’s filtering software
Among the big ISPs, some are saying yes to the Department of Internal Affairs’ new Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System, and some no. Others are still considering the site-blocking software, which will be rolled out over the next couple of months.
Orcon: no
Asked if Orcon would install the filtering software, spokesman Duncan Blair replied: “We just aren’t. Not willing to be drawn into an ideological argument on this one at the moment, will leave that to the plenty of others out there who are."
TelstraClear: yes
TelstraClear spokesman Matthew Bolland told NBR his company was happy to install the DIA’s filtering software, which is going to be rolled out over the next two months.
“We’re waiting for the details but the trial worked well and we’ll be going forward,” said Mr Bolland. “WE sent a direct mail to all our customers telling them about the rollout-out. We got a lot of positive feedback and no negative feedback to my knowledge.”
Mr Bolland said no performance issues had been noted during the trial.
The DIA’s bought a software package called Whitebox, for around $150,000 from a Swedish company called Netclean, then customised for use in New Zealand.
Unlike the filtering trial across the Tasman, ISPs can choose whether or not they can adopt the software, and the software itself is developed exclusively to target sites with images of child exploitation. The DIA says there will be no “track-backs” or other feature that identifies internet users; the software will purely block access to around 7000 or so sites.
A number of people have, regardless, seen the filtering software as the thin end of the wedge, and fear that once in place, any censorship software could be expanded to cover other areas (see links below).
Mr Bolland, however, the current system is tightly targeted. “There’s no grey area about whether child sexual exploitation is bad; it’s not about blocking access to any lifestyle preference sites.” (In Australia, the government’s filtering software has inadvertently blocked everything from mainstream adult sites to completely innocent URLs such as those run by a travel agent and dentist.)
Telecom: maybe
Telecom Broadband (formerly Xtra) holds around 54% market share. Spokeswoman Emma-Kate Greer says “At this stage we are still reviewing the details of the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System with a view to establishing the best way forward. We have been in discussion with the Department of Internal Affairs and are very conscious of working with them to address this serious issue.”
Vodafone: probably
Vodafone’s division formerly known as ihug participated in the original DIA trial, which began a full two years ago.
“We’ve been involved in the trial and we will be working with the DIA to filter illegal content in the future,” said spokesman Paul Brislen.
$611,000 was allocated for increased DIA enforcement action in the recent budget. The balance will be spent on activitities that complement the filter, including prosecutions. At anyone time, the DIA has six or seven people monitoring newsgroups and file sharing services, or acting on tips from the public or overseas agencies.
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Comments and questions10
If you use the arguement that little old ladies get run down by cars it could seem like a good idea to have suspect drivers required to have someone walking with a red flag in front of their cars. But at least then we would all know who those drivers are and the veracity of the claim could be challenged.
Blocking is an insidious issue. I know this having been involved in the likes of this at a corporate level. If there is one thing that history has taught us it is that ANY such move by a governmental entity MUST have public oversight.
"We sent a direct mail to all our customers telling them about the rollout" (TelstraClear)
Rubbish. I hadn't heard a word until this story recently appeared in the media.
Good on you Orcon!
The similar system in Australia slows down internet speeds immensely, and blocks things that shouldn't be blocked.
I for one, will switch to Orcon if Telecom adopts this filtering software.
The Australian filtering example has proven so contemptable and laughable, why ape it?
#1: Their list was of course, avaliable for perusing. This led to the various scandals óver what somebody had deemed 'objectionable'
#2: As it was avaliable, Australia effectively assembled a ready to use database of underaged websites. That seems somewhat counter-productive.
#3: All in all, the blocked sites for the most parts are now dead anyway. That is the nature of illegal websites. There are no permanent websites just waiting to be blocked.
#4: Basically, the institution of filtering software is either by dolts blowing tax money, or alternatively, deliberately to establish the filtering architecture for other purposes.
I always gloated that our country was not as incompetent as Australia concerning the institution of mandatory filtering. The parallel with China being rather clear, and Australia subsequently the laughing stock of the Western world. I have clearly been proved wrong.
This article seems rather biased considering 'Orcon refuses'?, ORCON CLEARLY DOESN'T THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
This is heading down the same line as the proposed grat wall of australia and i am not happy with it.
Paul Brislen from Vodafone has told me that Vodafone is definitely planning to sign up for the DIA's internet filtering scheme.
Of course, I'm only a dirty blogger relying on primary sources. :)
Another reason they should be sold.
Anyone with the slightest bit of internet knowledge would know that www.web.sites are not where these people get or trade this sort of stuff. The list of 7000 sites will be out of date the day it goes live.
and are they going to block every proxy server out there to this is just going to slow the net down.
The hole thing is just BS they are doing nothing to protect our children or catch the offenders out.
It we be the internet through our governments rose tinted glasses.
This has to be a disaster, I have zero tolerance for kiddy-fiddlers, esp the nasty Cathoilc ones, but this will acheive zero (any serious pedo will know how to circumvent it) The we look at the Ozzie debacle and see that only about 40% of the published list dealt with kiddy-fiddling. It also included euthansia, religous and other sites.
Once in place, the well-meaning dopes in the round pigsty will be unable to resist pressure from all manner of wierdo groups, ie right-to-lifers, Scientologists, Chiropracters, religous freaks of every odour, , Moms-against-whoknows-what, etc, all pushing their own barrow-load of sites they think should be banned.
It can be defeated by proxies. I doubt objectional material as determined by the censorship office will be impacted at all. I think the politicians who won't front on this issue are going to turn the DIA into some nasty monster - not really their role is it.
I recently added a games site into the file
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
and ta-da, my son appeared and started doing stuff with me. That censorship is practical and works.
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