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Regarding 'Vetting the Net' (Herald editorial Jan 6)

The internet censorship law which came into effect on January 1 is a poorly
conceived  and overly restrictive law which reduces the freedoms of adults
whilst making little improvement in empowering parents or protecting children.

Comments such as those made in Thursday's editorial serve only to
perpetuate the pornography myth amongst those unfamiliar with the internet.

Whilst it is true that pornography can be accessed via the internet, it is
neither as prolific or intrusive as stated. The claim that "60% of net
sites contain some sort of pornography" seems somewhat extravagant as this
implies that more than every second internet site contains pornography! Nor
are internet users flooded with pornography upon connecting to the internet
- it must typically be sought out. Accidental encounters with pornography
can be addressed by parents installing special software which has been
available for several years.

 
The internet offers more means for parental control over children's viewing
than television, video or radio. Special software, combined with parental
guidance and support, offers a solution that helps children deal with 'net
nasties', whilst letting adults get on with being adults. Internet
censorship is simply another unwelcome intrusion into the private lives of
Australian adults and families. 

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Heath Gibson 				B. Com , B Ec (Hons)
Department of Economics
Newcastle University,  	                Ph: +61 (0)2 49216750
CALLAGHAN  NSW 2308  AUSTRALIA

Internet Censorship - Stay Informed & Visit
http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/99.html

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