Here’s another reason to want to kick Senator Conroy in his manjunk – According to a report by Asher Moses in the SMH, he’s apparently decided to turn his already stupid compulsory web filter against gamers by blocking websites hosting or selling games that are rated above the maximum MA15+ for games in Australia.
Highlighting the stupidity of the current lack of an R18+ rating for games is the fact that even though games can only be rated to MA15+, pages on the internet itself can be rated R18+.
According to the SMH piece, the filter will block sites selling or hosting games that are RC (which is anything above our MA15+) based on a complaints system to the ACMA. The scary part is that this could mean sites like Amazon, which sell games restricted to adult purchase in the US, but might be RC here in Australia, could be blocked. It also puts question marks over online games like World of Warcraft and Second Life.
As always, you should feel outraged by the Government’s plans to filter the internet. Rather than being a tool to fight child pornography, this is quickly becoming an Orwellian crusade to control the freedoms of Australians everywhere. Make sure the government hears your voice denouncing their plans – it’s the only way we can hope to overcome this idiocy.
[SMH]
Alpha Ralpha
June 26, 2009 at 3:04 PM
“…this is quickly becoming an Orwellian crusade to control the freedoms of Australians everywhere.”
No, just gamers in Australia. Those of us with kids, mortgages, and wives, who have more demanding and creative things to do than play computer games, don’t give a Conroy if you can’t get into a game where you can drool over simulated sex. Learn to use a proxy. Or get a girlfriend.
Report PermalinkNathan
June 26, 2009 at 3:47 PM
They can’t block ebay, but they already block games that are not classified from eBay. eBay lets it happen, they comply with the law. Try and list one and you will find out, it will get reported and taken down.
Report PermalinkSam
June 26, 2009 at 6:01 PM
If I expand my search to non-Australian sellers though I can see and order even RC games from overseas. At a minimum that would have to be removed.
Report PermalinkLiz
June 26, 2009 at 4:50 PM
“No, just gamers in Australia. Those of us with kids, mortgages, and wives, who have more demanding and creative things to do than play computer games, don’t give a Conroy if you can’t get into a game where you can drool over simulated sex. Learn to use a proxy. Or get a girlfriend.”
I am a gamer with children and a mortgage. I enjoy playing games with my kids and playing adult games also. And I care about these issues.
I’m sorry but I don’t think that the whole country should be restricted because parents like yourself have “better things” to worry about than teaching your kids how to stay safe online.
Just because you can’t be bothered doesn’t mean the government should do it for you. When we decided to have children this is what we signed up for.
How about if I turned up with my two children at your house, took anything that I deemed unsafe from anywhere I thought they might wander without asking you, threw it in the trash and then buggered off because I had better things to worry about?
Letting your kids play online is like letting your kids play at the local shopping centre. Only a moron would leave it up to the government to look out for them.
Report PermalinkMatthew Russo
June 26, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Is there a filter that blocks Conroy?
Honestly though…they can control ratings and R rated games shouldn’t be a problem.
Report PermalinkDarcy Jackson
June 26, 2009 at 10:21 PM
No way! If PlayAsia is blocked I’m doomed. My 360 came from PlayAsia and I wont be able to buy any new games for it without PlayAsia cause it’s Singapore/HK region 3. It’s also where I buy my music and movies. I’m going to cry :’(
Conroy is such a villain
Report PermalinkCraig
June 27, 2009 at 1:47 AM
So as an Aussie newb (only got here 5 months ago) what do we do about it in a civilized and meaningful way?
Assassination being outlawed by the Geneva convention and all that … ;)
Report PermalinkNelson
June 27, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Don’t worry there will be cracks for that…
Report PermalinkAs if they can stop us!
joe
June 27, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Moving to Sweden.
Report Permalinkwill
June 28, 2009 at 1:01 PM
@theo don’t look to the world to raise your children mate cowboy the fuck up and do it your self.anyone who starts a statement with as a parent is fucking weak sauce and the reason stupid shit like this gets this far.
Report PermalinkStephen Ridgway
June 28, 2009 at 5:09 PM
What does the voter know, they know that they will be told to do by KRudd Government whether they want the advice or not.
Report PermalinkMick
June 29, 2009 at 11:01 AM
everyone should e-mail there feelings to minister@dbcde.gov.au and hope someone actually reads them.
Report PermalinkNaito
June 29, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Ludicrous. We live in a country of democracy! They should not be able to strip our rights and freedom. It’s no the censoring of porn that bothers me, it’s the fact that Australia’s internet is already sub-par and ISP filtering will only slow it down more. And now I hear they want to go even further, with the already ridiculous R18+ ban by blocking sites that sell them: one of which that I immediately think of is Ebay. It’s the 21st century, so get with the times Conroy, or FUCK OFF!!!
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