AMCA Fine you for Linking to Blacklisted Content

The latest in the news regarding the AMCA's interest in filtering internet content is the news that you can be fined $11,000 a day that you host content in Australia which links to websites on the AMCA's blacklist. At this point in time the list includes mostly illegal content, but has already expanded to include some 506 legal R18+ and X18+ rated websites, and it is well-known that any form of filtering on the Internet will result in more than just illegal/really-bad content being blocked, just look at what's happened elsewhere in the world. Today they block child porn and tomorrow we have China-like censorship.

From the smh article, to which I agree, "The Government would serve the country well by sparing themselves, and us, this embarrassment."

The biggest problem I see with any sort of internet censoring is that once a government body takes responsibility for blocking illegal/inappropriate content, it creates a sense that if something isn't blocked then it is approved. Once that pattern of thinking sets in someone will come up with the bright idea of banning more content, and more content, and before we know it we have websites being blocked for saying the wrong thing.

I agree with the AMCA that child porn and alike shouldn't be available online, however I don't need AMCA filters and fines to choose not to visit those types of websites. And in regards to keeping kids safe from such content, it is your job as a parent to monitor your child's online interactions, no one else's!

One thing to take from the AMCA's intention to fine websites $11,000 a day, is to realise it's a great time to move your website to a web hosting firm that house their servers elsewhere, like the US, UK or Sweden.

P.S.: According to a related article on efa.org.au the full Australian blacklist is kept secret, so good luck avoiding the $11,000 fine.