EFA MEDIA RELEASE - EFA LAUNCHES NEW ANTI-CENSORSHIP CAMPAIGN

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Media Release
Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc.

                    Media Release                  July 21st 1997

EFA LAUNCHES NEW ANTI-CENSORSHIP CAMPAIGN

Electronic Frontiers Australia announces the launch of a campaign against
unnecessary Internet censorship laws, in the light of the threat posed
by proposals released last week by the Federal government.

The proposals, jointly endorsed by the Department of Communciations and
the Arts and the Federal Attorney-General's office, do not yet have the
force of law. There is a brief consultation process for members of the
public and interested organisations to submit views on the principles
outlined, deadline August 8, 1997.

EFA calls upon the Internet community to rally against the proposals, which
include:

* ABA-approved Codes of Practice binding ISPs to censor content.
* New Federal and State transmission offences.
* Content illegal in one State will be illegal Australia-wide.
* States may set their own censorship standards for the Internet.
* ISPs may be liable for the acts of content providers.

EFA's campaign will involve the following:

* An online petition to the Senate.
* A detailed response to the DCA/A-G's proposal.
* Coordinating a joint statement by Australian online groups.
* Public events and regular updates.
* An information resource for groups and individuals making submissions.

To join the campaign, or obtain more details:

* See the web page at http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/contreg.html
* Join the EFA Action List - send email to action-request@efa.org.au 
    with the word "subscribe" in the body of the message.
* IRC discussion 10.00 pm EST each Tuesday on server sydney.oz.org, 
    channel #efa.
* Contact the Campaign Coordinator - EFA Chair Kimberley Heitman. 
* Join EFA - details at http://www.efa.org.au/JoinEFA/Welcome.html

ENDS

      --------------------------------------------------------------
      Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc  --  http://www.efa.org.au/
      representing Internet users concerned with on-line freedoms
      --------------------------------------------------------------
      Media Contacts

      Kimberley Heitman
      Phone: +61 8 9458 2790
      Email: kheitman@it.com.au

      Danny Yee
      Phone (home): +61 2 9955 9898
      Phone (work): +61 2 9351 5159
      Email: danny.yee@efa.org.au
      --------------------------------------------------------------

BACKGROUND

DCA principles:
	http://www.dca.gov.au/policy/fwork_4_online_svces/framework.htm
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