11th June 1996


()                >>> Support the STOP! Campaign <<<              ()
/\    *** Don’t let the government put you out of business ***    /\


Dear Internet Service Provider,

You may have heard about the controversial Internet censorship 
legislation proposed in NSW. But did you know that on July 11, a meeting 
of every Australian Attorney-General will consider it as a model for 
NATIONAL Internet laws?

As an ISP, these laws will affect you directly and the STOP! campaign 
needs your help to give our politicians better information and guidance.

______________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS PROPOSED?

The NSW model for Australian law covers the online availability of 
material unsuitable for minors under 15, ranging from MA15+, R, X, etc. 
Apart from targeting users, the legislation would make it an offence for 
service providers to allow access to such material, and force them to 
monitor users’ activities on a regular basis.

The extra workload and stiff penalties for non-compliance would severely 
affect the way you do business, and your users’ online freedoms. 
Operators of several NSW Internet services say the legislation would 
leave them with no choice but to shut down.

Clauses in the proposed legislation relating to ISPs include:

  7 Making objectionable material available for access or retrieval on
    on-line service

    (1) An on-line service provider must not permit objectionable 
material
    to be available for access or retrieval by users of the service.

 10 Making material unsuitable for minors of any age available for 
access
    or retrieval by those minors

    (1) An on-line service provider must not permit material unsuitable
    for minors of any age to be available for access or retrieval by a
    minor using the service.

 11 Making material unsuitable for minors under 15 available for access
    or retrieval by those minors

    (1) An on-line service provider must not permit material unsuitable
    for minors under 15 to be available for access or retrieval by a
    minor under 15 using the service without the consent of a parent or
    guardian of the minor.


Defences against these laws include proof of compliance with an industry 
code of practice (created by the government, NOT the industry), 
"reasonable steps" (including monitoring user send/receive activity), 
and belief "on reasonable grounds" that the activity in question was not 
illegal.

* A leaked copy of the draft legislation and analyses of it are 
available at:

  http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/NSWCampaign.html

______________________________________________________________________
THE STOP! CAMPAIGN

On May 27 in Sydney, hundreds of Internet users protested outside the 
NSW parliament, against the proposed laws. The organisers of the march 
have now turned their efforts to the STOP! campaign, a national effort 
with representatives in each state.

We must make governments understand the international nature of the 
Internet and the impossibility of controlling user activity. It is clear 
that the authors of the draft legislation are not familiar with how the 
Internet works.

The STOP! campaign maintains that, in many cases, existing laws are 
adequate (there are already people before the courts in Australia for 
supplying and receiving illegal material via the Internet).

The STOP! campaign encourages the use of software filter devices and 
parental controls instead of the imposition of harsh, unenforceable laws 
which would only affect the innocent.

______________________________________________________________________
HOW YOU CAN HELP AS AN ISP

We are asking you to tell your users what is going on, and point them in 
the direction of STOP! information.

* The STOP! campaign Web site is at:
  http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/stop.html

Our graphics and other material are available for your use -- please 
download the STOP! campaign logo and use it to link to the site from 
your company Web pages.

We are asking you to contact your state Attorney-General's office NOW, 
to tell them you do not support the NSW model for regulation, and that 
such laws would hamper your business operations and those of your 
clients. Please encourage your users to do the same.

* A list of contact details for Australian Attorney-Generals is at:

  http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/AGlist.html

______________________________________________________________________
MAILING LISTS

* Please join the STOP! campaign alerts mailing list, a low-volume 
announcements list (no discussion). Send an email to:

  [email protected]
  with the word "subscribe" in the body of the message

* You may also wish to join the STOP! campaign discussion list, to keep 
up-to-date and suggest new ideas. Send an email to:

  [email protected]
  with the word "subscribe" in the body of the message

* Please let us know what you are doing (e.g. forward communication with 
your Attorney-General) at the following address:

  [email protected]

______________________________________________________________________
THANK YOU

The STOP! campaign appreciates your support. If we work together, we can 
get results, and give Australia a continued chance to be a world leader 
on the Internet of the future.

The July 11 meeting of Attorney-Generals is fast approaching - we must 
act quickly. The STOP! campaign will be in touch again as the deadline 
approaches.


Thank you and good luck,
The STOP! Campaign committee