Labor senator Kate Lundy has announced plans to amend the Government’s filtering legislation so users could “opt out”.
Lundy told The Australian her amendment would see users be able to set the filter at whatever level they deem appropriate for their own usage. The Government’s proposed filter for material that is refused classification would only apply if a user determined it should be so.
“I think there’s a lot of interest in my proposal,” she said. “The feedback I’m getting back from colleagues is that there are concerns around freedom of speech and lack of parental empowerment.”
“It doesn’t empower parents with the control over what their children are getting,” she said. “Senator Conroy’s policy just puts in place a blanket filter.”
The filtering legislation is set to be introduced into parliament in the next few months.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
