The Government’s blacklist of over 2000 websites that are to be banned under the planned mandatory ISP-level filtering system has been leaked onto the internet.
The entire list, which has been viewed by SmartCompany, has been put on Wikileaks, a site known for its publication of documents released by whistleblowers.
While the blacklist contains a number of sites related to child pornography, it also contains links to Wikipedia entries, YouTube links, religious sites and even the website of a
Wikileaks, which has previously released blacklists created by the governments of
“Most of the sites on the Australian list have no obvious connection to child pornography. Some have changed owners while others were clearly always about other subjects,” Wikileaks claims.
Founder Julian Assange located the blacklisted after ACMA added several of his own websites on the list.
The leak may add to the case of opponents of the list, who claimed any blacklist would invariably damage innocent sites by falsely identifying them as child pornography.
Donna Ashelford, president of the System Administrators Guild, says the leak is not a surprise and it will hurt the Government’s chances of passing the legislation.
“This is as we predicted, and as most people who have commented as predicted. One of the biggest hazards is that it can be leaked.
“The problems that were predicted will continue to occur and I don’t think the Government has the legislative imperative or ability to pass the legislation now.”
If the Government continues with its mandatory internet filtering program, then these sites will all become blocked to Australian internet users.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has also indicated the Government’s intention to increase the number of links on the site to 10,000 or more.
Opposition communications spokesman Nick Minchin has said while the leaking is irresponsible, it shows how the blacklist policy is flawed.
“The regrettable and unfortunate reality is there will always be explicit and illegal material on the web and – regardless of blacklists, filters and the like – those with the means and know-how will find ways of accessing it,” he told The Age.
“Adult supervision is the most effective way of keeping children safe online and people shouldn’t be led into believing by Labor that expanded blacklists or mandatory filters are a substitute for that.”
Earlier this week the Australian Communications and Media Authority threatened a data hosting service with fines of up to $11,000 a day if it continued to host a link contained on the blacklist.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
