[Martinman]

An article in The West Australian, April 29, 2009 indicates that the "Australian Federal Government could ban people caught downloading movie and internet files illegally could be banned from the internet. This relates to file sharing and France, Britain and New Zealand are also considering laws to "kick people off the net for internet theft". The government is considering introducing laws which insiders said could see ISPs sending warning letters to pirates that their illegal internet use was being monitored. All this comes from growing pressure from film studios and record companies to crack down on pirates.

France is considering laws that would see people caught downloading stolen material being dumped by their ISPs. Repeat offenders would be blacklisted so they would be unable to subscribe to any service."

Perhaps they could start with child porn if they are going to start monitoring what we download. Martinman

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by Martinman

An article in The West Australian, April 29, 2009 indicates that the "Australian Federal Government could ban people caught downloading movie and internet files illegally could be banned from the internet. This relates to file sharing and France, Britain and New Zealand are also considering laws to "kick people off the net for internet theft". The government is considering introducing laws which insiders said could see ISPs sending warning letters to pirates that their illegal internet use was being monitored. All this comes from growing pressure from film studios and record companies to crack down on pirates.

France is considering laws that would see people caught downloading stolen material being dumped by their ISPs. Repeat offenders would be blacklisted so they would be unable to subscribe to any service."

Perhaps they could start with child porn if they are going to start monitoring what we download. Martinman

Hello Martinman,

Very good post...Thank-you......

[tomhr]

I suspect that the politicians (in Australia, France, UK, and NZ) voting for such laws would be voted down in the next election.

Big Content in the USA lost their chance last November. Such a pity! (Not.)

[archon.thelawgiver]

Originally Posted by tomhr

I suspect that the politicians (in Australia, France, UK, and NZ) voting for such laws would be voted down in the next election.

Big Content in the USA lost their chance last November. Such a pity! (Not.)

Regarding Australia, the chances of the government being thrown out of office over this issue is the equivalent of water running uphill. The issue is nothing compared to:

1. The global economic crisis
2. Swine flu
3. Global warming
4. The death of the Murray-Darling water system
5. Paid maternity leave
6. An increase in aged pensions

Likewise the Australian federal opposition (former government) is about as popular Attila the Hun, as relevant as a paper clip and as efficient as a wet paper bag in a southerly gale.

This legislation will go through parliament with little fanfare. What may be the real sleeper is the government's net filter. If this slows down internet traffic then their could be a stink. Alternatively, the government is rolling out an internet to "the door" fibre network which will massively increase the speed of this country's middle band (and this would act as a counter balance to to the speed issue of the net nanny software).

I'm sorry tomhr you just don't understand local Australian politics. This government is extremely popular and unless all the major ISP's reject the use of monitoring software then the legislation WILL go through parliament. Now whether you can detect encrypted VPN is another issue all together.

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by archon.thelawgiver

Regarding Australia, the chances of the government being thrown out of office over this issue is the equivalent of water running uphill. The issue is nothing compared to:

1. The global economic crisis
2. Swine flu
3. Global warming
4. The death of the Murray-Darling water system
5. Paid maternity leave
6. An increase in aged pensions

Likewise the Australian federal opposition (former government) is about as popular Attila the Hun, as relevant as a paper clip and as efficient as a wet paper bag in a southerly gale.

This legislation will go through parliament with little fanfare. What may be the real sleeper is the government's net filter. If this slows down internet traffic then their could be a stink. Alternatively, the government is rolling out an internet to "the door" fibre network which will massively increase the speed of this country's middle band (and this would act as a counter balance to to the speed issue of the net nanny software).

I'm sorry tomhr you just don't understand local Australian politics. This government is extremely popular and unless all the major ISP's reject the use of monitoring software then the legislation WILL go through parliament. Now whether you can detect encrypted VPN is another issue all together.

archon you are spot on. Regarding the fibre optics network (is it really going to go ahead Archon?) I read letters to the editor from people who think it's a waste of money for us to have proper internet infrastructure. These are the people who think the internet is just for email and surfing the net -- they don't get the big picture of where technology is taking us.

I agree, this current government won't get thrown out over such a trivial issue for here. In reality it represents such a small portion of the population who are affected (our population is around 19 million). Unlike North America or Europe, there aren't enough people to stand up against this. For us living here, it is frightening.

Martinman

[archon.thelawgiver]

Originally Posted by Martinman

archon you are spot on. Regarding the fibre optics network (is it really going to go ahead Archon?) I read letters to the editor from people who think it's a waste of money for us to have proper internet infrastructure. These are the people who think the internet is just for email and surfing the net -- they don't get the big picture of where technology is taking us.

I agree, this current government won't get thrown out over such a trivial issue for here. In reality it represents such a small portion of the population who are affected (our population is around 19 million). Unlike North America or Europe, there aren't enough people to stand up against this. For us living here, it is frightening.

Martinman

Martinman,

I reckon the fibre to the door/home or whatever will go through but from what my geek friends are saying it will cost more and that cost may be passed on to you and me. However do not underestimate the government's power (as an initial owner) to have business subsidising home users.

In all events our internet speeds are a joke and the other issue that is all wrapped up this is the breaking up of the private Telstra monopoly and is part and parcel of the government's plans. Likewise I expect Telstra to participate in the roll-out process.

Last but not least is the prime serve to the previous government who privatised a near monopoly, foisted it on the Australian public, whether we wanted it or not (and we didn't) and then proceeded to act as they had a communications policy…which they didn't. That's why we need faster internet speeds because they had an old man (he acted old) from a previous era who just didn't think the whole issue was relevant. Then again he didn't believe in global warming either. But that's another issue for another time.

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by archon.thelawgiver

Martinman,

I reckon the fibre to the door/home or whatever will go through but from what my geek friends are saying it will cost more and that cost may be passed on to you and me. However do not underestimate the government's power (as an initial owner) to have business subsidising home users.

In all events our internet speeds are a joke and the other issue that is all wrapped up this is the breaking up of the private Telstra monopoly and is part and parcel of the government's plans. Likewise I expect Telstra to participate in the roll-out process.

Last but not least is the prime serve to the previous government who privatised a near monopoly, foisted it on the Australian public, whether we wanted it or not (and we didn't) and then proceeded to act as they had a communications policy…which they didn't. That's why we need faster internet speeds because they had an old man (he acted old) from a previous era who just didn't think the whole issue was relevant. Then again he didn't believe in global warming either. But that's another issue for another time.

Hi archon

I hope you're right and I've read that argument that your geek friends have told you. I was here during the privatisation of Telstra. I haven't checked but when I left those who bought in didn't get a very good deal.

Our speed is a joke and you're right about Little Johnny; he just didn't get it. It's one of the frustrations I find about living here. We are a country with some of the best and brightest minds, inventions, research and development and entrepreneurs, but the governments always seem to have to sit and watch the world go by before they jump on board. By that time, we're always far behind. (The energy infrastructure here in WA is 1960s, past its time, overloaded and being burdened by the population growth.)

I think you're on the same track as I am; this is one of the most important infrastructure projects of this country -- up there with the railway, highways, telecommunications way back when. As for the cost, well, geez I pay so much more here for this old rickety system than I did for the fibre optics back in Canada which we put in over 20 years ago. But, having said that, this is still a great nation.

And damn, the girls are pretty.

Martinman (the Canuck and naturalised Aussie)