Rudd’s mandatory ISP filter will be used to censor video games
June 25, 2009 – 8:52 pmAsher Moses at The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a spokesperson for Senator Conroy has confirmed that ISP filtering will be used to block access to downloadable games, flash-based web games and sites which sell physical copies of games that do not meet the MA15+ standard, the highest game classification in Australia. Moses writes:
This means that even Australians who are aged above 15 and want to obtain the adult-level games online will be unable to do so. It will undoubtedly raise the ire of gamers, the average age of which is 30 in Australia, according to research commissioned by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia.
[...]
Senator Conroy’s spokesman said the filter would cover “computer games such as web-based flash games and downloadable games, if a complaint is received and the content is determined by ACMA to be Refused Classification”. All games that exceed MA15+ are deemed to be RC.
The filtering could also block “the importation of physical copies of computer games sold over the internet which have been classified RC”, the spokesman said.
[...]
Mark Newton, an ISP engineer and internet filtering critic, said the move to extend the filtering to computer games would place a cloud over online-only games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life, which aren’t classified in Australia due to their online nature.
Ah. It just keeps getting better doesn’t it.
34 Responses to “Rudd’s mandatory ISP filter will be used to censor video games”
This covers a lot of stuff that most people wouldn’t object to an adult viewing in private.
By Andrew Garrett on Jun 26, 2009
Nice to see Australia getting international recognition for the unequalled idiocy of our Communicationcations Minister.
It really is a ‘War on Everything’, isn’t it? The Chaser has nothing on Conroy.
By Syd Walker on Jun 26, 2009
And with that we get a serious non-pornographic victim of the filter. Bravo, Conroy, you’ve just given thousands more people a reason to fight the filter.
By Pharaoh on Jun 26, 2009
My God! Why, why won’t this fool LISTEN?
Every time he opens his mouth, my contempt and disgust increases.
By Max T on Jun 26, 2009
They will piss the Wow fanatics off at their peril – it’s more addictive than crack!
Every time I think this can’t get more ridiculous, it does!
By Sam D on Jun 26, 2009
This is bullshit. That means that popular outlets like eBay, Amazon, Game (UK), and many others could be blocked just for having one prohibited item, even though it is among non-prohibited ones.
As a so-called democracy, this country has lost its way by deciding what adults can and can’t play or see what they want in the sake of protecting the children.
I am beginning to hate Australia.
By Glenn on Jun 26, 2009
Clearly, with the Greens and Liberals opposing this scheme in the senate, this will never see the light of day. I honestly think that the ALP is saving face and waiting until the completion of the trials to announce that the filter is not practical, and subsequently drop this policy. It wont even get to a vote.
By Andrew Z on Jun 26, 2009
Well. That’s sounding like insanity.
I wouldn’t be able to continue to use legitimate online games services like steam and impulse from which I’ve already purchased games because they offer games which don’t fit into Australia’s incomplete game classification system. This is aside from the mixed online retailers which Glenn mentions in his comment. I honestly think that Senator Conroy didn’t think his stance through.
As a 30 year old gamer who thinks parents should do parenting not the government, I’m getting increasingly angry about this filtering. (To the point I’m willing to start posting ranty messages in blog comments.
)
The government should buzz off and let an adult make adult decisions.
By aspectacle on Jun 26, 2009
I don’t think they are trying to save face. If they were, they would be quietly dropping every aspect of the proposal until it vanishes into thin air. Every new announcement is exactly the opposite of saving face.
By Ben on Jun 26, 2009
I just don’t understand why the government seems to have such a hard time accepting that people over he age of 18 play computer games.
By Sweet Sister Morphine on Jun 26, 2009
Bloody hell, how to shoot yourself in the foot… Gamers are such an understanding bunch, I’m sure they’ll have no problems with this. Seriously, are they going to block Amazon and the like? There wasn’t a great deal of thought of the actual consequences of a policy like this, was there?
By Matthew on Jun 26, 2009
We just have to remember to push this back into the spotlight every time elections (early or otherwise) are mentioned. The last thing the ALP needs is less power in the senate and that’s what they are heading for thanks to Conroy’s massive popularity.
By Sam D on Jun 26, 2009
Amazon already doesn’t ship games outside the US, otherwhise I’d buy all of em there (I abhor the 30-50% “we have better beaches” tax).
By Pharaoh on Jun 26, 2009
gee, is conroy competing against michael achtinkson for the title of ‘most hated person in australia’ or something?
By blind_dead_mcjones on Jun 26, 2009
I don’t think they are trying to save face. If they were, they would have quietly dropped parts of the policy until it was all gone. No, they keep changing their intent, which only angers even more people.
By Ben on Jun 26, 2009
Look on the bright side, If they add Ebay, Amazon, WoW or other high profile game sites to the block list, The filter software will just overload and die.
This has FAIL written all over it.
By Big Pete on Jun 27, 2009
Hey i didn’t think my comment got through, so i republished. You can delete the first comment if you wish.
By Ben on Jun 27, 2009
It’s obscene that Conroy is plugging his filter in the same week that Iranian youths are being supressed and even killed with the help of this very technology.
By The Patrician on Jun 27, 2009
The UK based ISP Association has given Stephen Conroy an award for his development of Australia’s ISP level filtering plan.
They’ve given him the UK Internet Industry Award for “Internet Villain” which,
“recognises individuals or organisations that have upset the Internet industry and hampered its development – those who the industry loves to hate.”
More at
http://www.ispaawards.org.uk//page/category_internet_villain
By Daniel on Jun 28, 2009
Fuck you Conroy.
You just want to make Australian internet users’ lives much harder.
By Joey B on Jun 28, 2009
wow, there go a whole lot of online retailers, auction sites, porn sites that include even a single interactive function, and possibly many other types of sites that i currently cant think of.
Why Rudd is keeping this guy on when he probably going to cost him pretty much EVERY vote from the internet savey voter (becuase the fact that he keeps conroy shows at least implicit support for what Conroy is doing), even if the measure has no chance of passing (assuming they bother to put it through parliment instead of just starting to do it no matter if they are allowed to do so or not), Conroy still holding his position is likely going to cost Rudd votes. (though i doubt that even getting rid of Conroy would get all or even most of those votes back)
By alphamone on Jun 28, 2009
“It will undoubtedly raise the ire of gamers, the average age of which is 30 in Australia”
This statistic doesn’t really mean anything. Does anyone know the median age of gamers?
By Squakyduck on Jun 29, 2009
what about the mode age of gamers? >.> <.<
By alphamone on Jun 30, 2009
Squakyduck: I believe the median and mode is closer to the 25 years mark. In either case, it’s well over the adult age in any country.
By Vanessa on Jun 30, 2009
I wonder if this will cause a flood of Australian internet user refugees to leave the country. That’s if it gets through and is implemented.
By Armin on Jun 30, 2009
@ Armin: Could happen, if we were not so apathetic and the weather were not so nice.
By Sam D on Jul 2, 2009
Rallies, petitions, etc seem to have had little effect.
There’s enough of us Australia wide to get at least a Senate rep for QLD, NSW, and Vic, possibly the other states.
Are you interested in forming a party to show them we are serious?
We can do this.
Email me catvllvs[at]hotmail.com
By Michael on Jul 6, 2009
go ahead and filter porn and shit like that, i dont really care, but when you start filtering my gaming sites and online stores, you’ve gone too far.
seriously though, this reminds me of wartime controls in world war II, when they tried to pass the communist disillusion bill. I think, even if it gets through the house of reps and the senate, It’s unconstitutional. Breaks the right to freedom of information and in a way (with things like the zombie survival guide which is on the ban list) freedom of speech.
By Luke on Jul 8, 2009
That exemption is the only reason why multi-player games with user-generated environments are possible in this country; without it, it’d only take one game user anywhere in the world to produce objectionable content in the game environment to make the Australian Government ban the game for everyone
By Lieutenant on Jul 10, 2009
Wow, Conroys Ultimate plan is to Filter the Net and redirect all the Kiddy Porn to His Office, He wants games downloads Banned for everyone Cause its affecting his Ping in CS and he cant pwn Noobs anymore like he did on 56k, That moronic Woman in his office threatening people has watched too much south park.
ANYONE THAT THINKS CONROY MAKES ANY SENCE BUY A 40c Rusted Razor / across wrists Repeat this step until death occurs.
By Very Tired and Annoyed on Aug 1, 2009
Keep on trucking Conroy and Labour. You definitely aren’t going to retain my knowledge and skills if you keep up the pace with your draconian style proposals and laws.
By Jason on Sep 8, 2009
Am I mistaken or wont this just mean connecting to the net via an overseas proxy.
Adds $5.00 to the cost of internet connection.
Seems we are living in a knee jerk society.
By Steve on Oct 29, 2009
What the hell is wrong with these people. Adults are adults and should have full control over their lives rather than being hit with all this crap. Just because you block stuff doesn’t mean someone wont find a way to hack it.
By Jack on Dec 5, 2009
*shakes head*
I am a 38 year woman from Melbourne and due to health reasons recently was forced out of the hairdressing industry after 23 years… my income now I get from creating 3d products on the 3d virtual chat IMVU.. For the first time in my life I am persuing a career that I LOVE .. and am kicking butt too
What is going to happen to me when this is implemented? .. well I will be on the street… xoxo
By Pip on Dec 19, 2009