It seems that every country has its own problems, but when it comes to the Internet – or rather, when the Internet comes to it – the problems are all the same. Australia is currently in the grip of Internet liability issues that the US tried to handle with the Communications Decency Act (CI No 2,873) and the UK is currently dealing with in a more open manner. The issue ahead of Australia’s Internet community is whether to impose the equivalent of cinema ratings on on-line content. But Australian libertarians have already taken to the streets in protest. Legislation currently in front of New South Wales would shoot the messenger, according to Kimberley Heitman, chairman of Electronic Frontier Australia. As proposed, the legislation is expected to impose up to $7,500 fines or a 12-month jail sentence on people transmitting accessing, advertising or enabling access to objectionable material on the Internet. While the letter of the law would still have to be tested – as has been seen in several cases in the US and a couple in Europe – the basic objection of Heitman, and the 300 people who took to the streets, is that the carrier ought not to be penalized for carrying. What we’re seeking is an informed response by the New South Wales Government, said Heitman. The New South Wales Attorney-General, Jeff Shaw, told the Australian Financial Review: Those who assert that the proposals are a knee-jerk reaction are completely wrong. Those protesting about the proposed offences and penalties are conveniently ignoring half the story – the fact that the draft legislation creates broad defenses that encourage compliance with approved codes of practice or the taking of reasonable steps to ensure the behaviour doesn’t occur.
