Content Regulation

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Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Act 1999

The act became effective on January 1, 2000. In accordance with amended Australian Government legislation, YarraNet is now obliged to notify users within Australia about issues relating to Internet content.

As outlined in the legislation, YarraNet is not required to filter or in any way block content, nor is YarraNet required to ensure that members install or operate these filters recommended for use. The legislation does, however, require us to give our members reasonable information and tools to make an informed decision.

Complaints about Internet content

Members of the public may complain to the ABA about Internet content which is, or may be, prohibited by law. The law defines Internet content as stored information which is accessed over an Internet carriage service, including material on the World Wide Web, postings on newsgroups and bulletin boards, and other files that can be downloaded from an archive or library. More info: Complaints to ABA

Blocking Content

Some suggestions to block content which you may already have on your machine are as follows:

A good general rule (and part of our Acceptable Use Policy) is never to hand your YarraNet password out to anybody else. This limits time spent on the PC to sessions which can be supervised by you.

Internet Explorer (versions 5 and above) contains control measures that can be implemented by members. Go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options. In here you can change various settings to control content.

Alternatively you could purchase a copy of Internet Filter Software.

Internet Filter Software

Cyber Patrol - from Microsystems Software Inc. (a subsidiary of The Learning Company)
Both end user and server based. May be configured to operate using exclusion or inclusion lists. According to the manufacturers: "used to manage Internet access, limit the total time spent online and restrict access to Internet sites deemed inappropriate".
Contact: Lanvision Pty Ltd,
Unit 10, 175 Gibbes Street, Chatswood NSW 2057
Tel: (02) 9882 0088, Email: support@lanvision.com.au

eyeguard - from EYE-t Technology (Aust) Pty Ltd
An end-user product, which analyses images as they are received.
Contact: Eye-t Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd,
Level 12, 100 Walker Street, North Sydney NSW 2060
Tel: (02) 9966 1202, Email: info@eye-t.com.au

SurfWatch - from JSB Software Technologies PLC
An exclusion list filtering product, which is available in several forms: client software, in a server version, and also as a toolkit. The bottom line, according to Michael Sears, SurfWatch's general manager, is that there is "no way anyone could block" every offensive site. Further, he said it is impossible to guarantee that innocuous sites won't be thrown out with the bathwater.
Contact: Techex Communications Pty Ltd,
13/5 Vuko Place, Warriewood, NSW 2102
Tel: (02) 9970 5488, Email: support@techex.com.au

Net Nanny - Allows you to monitor, screen and block access to anything residing on, or running in your PC, whether you are connected to the Internet or not, and in real time. Net Nanny allows you to filter and block: Internet Web sites, Newsgroups, Chat channels, Personal information, Words and phrases.

Other sites of interest:

Australian Broadcasting Authorityn (ABA)
An independent federal statutory authority responsible for the regulation of the broadcasting industry. The ABA is now responsible for investigating complaints and ordering removal of offending Websites. ABA info on Online services content regulation
ABA Family Guide to the Internet

VICNET examines the Issue of Internet Censorship
VICNET section covering the arguments for and against Net censorship. Also covers the use of Filtering Software Net Nanny, Cybersitter, Cyber Patrol, SurfWatch etc.

Safe Sites for Younger Kids
part of the VICNET Kids Site that covers:
Music - Sport - Film - TV - Games - Chat - Teens - Fun 4 Kids - Toons - Clubs - Cool Info

Internet Industry Association (IIA)
Australia's national Internet industry organisation. They have worked to develop an IIA Content Regulation Code of Practice as Approved by the Australian Broadcasting Authority

Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association (AIMIA)
Representing Internet and multimedia content developers

Blocking Software Examined
Details on all the major filters, what you get, what you don't.

Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA)
National campaign to stop censorship of the Internet in Australia

Electronic Frontier Foundation
Civil liberties organization working to protect rights on-line. Includes Blue Ribbon Campaign for online freedom of speech, press and association.

Cyber Angels
Net Patrol is a large neighborhood watch in cyberspace. Hunts and tracks child pornography sites and child predators online. Has info on filtering software

X-Stop
The software that was being used by the Loudoun County library, Virginia. Subject of the first ever lawsuit filed to challenge filtering in libraries on First Amendment grounds

Cybersitter
almost all parties on both sides of the blocking software debate have distanced themselves from CYBERsitter. Read why

NoThankYou.com
e-mail filtering service. Users can register to have their e-mail addresses removed from bulk e-mail lists, and responsible marketers can filter their e-mail lists before mailing.