Tag Archive for "Internal Affairs"
I have now reviewed the response from Internal Affairs about their internet-filtering scheme.
Overall, it looks like a reasonable attempt to create a system that will efficiently and fairly block people from viewing illegal material on the Internet. The process for adding sites looks reasonably robust and, assuming they are doing what they’re saying, the sites are reviewed monthly.
I do have a number of issues with the system, including:
- the system can only block based on internet address (IP address). It is common to have multiple websites on one IP address, but the internet-filtering system will block access to all of them even if only one of them is hosting objectionable material.
- the list is being kept secret and therefore people cannot check to see that the system is not being abused (as was found to be the case in Australia recently). I contrast this with the activities of New Zealand’s Chief Censor who publishes a publicly accessible database listing the material that has been banned.
My more serious concern is that I see that this is a “softly-softly” first step to implementing mandatory censorship of the Internet. Not many people are prepared to defend access to child pornography and, after all, the scheme is only voluntary. However, “objectionable” material includes many categories other than child abuse and I do not expect the voluntary nature of the scheme to remain that way (either through legal mandate or other pressures). As the scheme expands I believe there will be more potential for abuse and the deliberate blocking of legitimate material.
I am now following up some of the issues raised with Internal Affairs, the Minister, and the Chief Censor.
I have also asked the Chief Ombudsmand for comment on the Department’s withholding of the list of banned sites.
Internal Affairs have responded to my request for information and I include the text of the response here (scans of the letter: page 1, page 2, page 3).
Once again I am impressed by the response and very grateful for the Official Information Act.
I will post my comments on the letter at a later date.
The Internal Affairs department in New Zealand is currently running an internet filtering scheme. They choose which sites to block and then publish a list that ISPs can use to block access to them.
It’s a voluntary scheme and ISPs don’t have to use it. It is known that Telstra Clear does use it.
I have seen claims that it’s only for the worst forms of child pornography.
I expect that once the scheme is proven to work:
- It will not stay voluntary.
- It will be extended to other forms of material.
I would like to know more about it, and therefore:
Dear Internal Affairs,
I understand that Internal Affairs is running a voluntary “clean feed” Internet content filtering project in conjunction with a number of ISPs including Telstra Clear.
Under the Official Information Act I would like the following information about this project:
1. What is the underlying technology used to implement the filter?
2. What law or regulation or other legal contrivance gives Internal Affairs the authority to create and supply the content-filtering service?
3. How is the content-filtering service funded?
4. How much did the content-filtering service cost to run in the 2007/2008 financial year?
5. What is the budget for the content-filtering service in the 2008/2009 financial year?
6. What is the projected budget (if available) for the content-filtering service for the 2009/2010 financial year?
7. By what process are sites/addresses chosen and added to the list?
8. What types of content get a site/address added to the list?
9. Please send me a current copy of the list including the reasons for the inclusion of each site/address. (A digital copy in some openly available format will suffice.)
10. Which ISPs are currently using or working towards using the list to filter their Internet feeds?
11. What information is stored when a request to a site is blocked?
12. What information is stored when the request is intercepted but approved?
Yours faithfully,
Thomas Beagle