Media Release

Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc.

For immediate release
21st December 1999

EFA MOVES WEBSITE OFFSHORE

Electronic Frontiers Australia has moved its website to the United States
in response to Australian Internet censorship legislation which commences
on 1st January 2000.
 
EFA webmaster Greg Taylor said, "In the absence of any precedent for the
application of film and video classification guidelines to Internet
content, it is impossible for us to know whether anything on our web site
would be 'prohibited content' under the legislation.  Although we don't
believe we have published anything that might be deemed illegal, our site
could well contain material with adult themes, which requires an adult
verification system to be implemented.  This would be an obstacle not only
for our Australian readers, but also for our extensive overseas audience."

"It is quite ridiculous that material that can be legally published in a
book in this country could run foul of the new online legislation because
it  is classified according to film guidelines.  In other media, publishers
can pay the Office of Film and Literature Classification for classification
prior to publication, but this service is not offered to online content
providers.  

"Nothing would cause a potential reader to lose interest faster than having
to comply with an onerous and intrusive age verification check," said
Taylor.  "Similarly we have no wish to be subject to a take-down notice
aimed at silencing us, as some politicians would like to do.  We want to be
free to tell the world about the draconian censorship regime in Australia.

"We have therefore decided to move our website with the intent of placing
it beyond the whims of Australian regulators."

[ENDS]

      -----------------------------------------------------------------
      Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc  --  http://www.efa.org.au/
      representing Internet users concerned about on-line freedoms
      Email: [email protected]    Phone: 02 9255 7969   Fax: 02 9255 7736
      URL of this release:  http://www.efa.org.au/Publish/PR991221.html      
      -----------------------------------------------------------------

Media Contacts:
       Greg Taylor                        Danny Yee
       Ph 07 3370 6362                    Phone: 02 9351 5159
       [email protected]                 [email protected]


BACKGROUND

Blinded by Smoke: The Hidden Agenda of the Online Services Bill 1999
    http://www.libertus.net/liberty/blinded.html

Office of Film and Literature Classification 
    http://www.oflc.gov.au/

ABA registers code of practice
    http://www.aba.gov.au/about/public_relations/newrel_99/134nr99.htm

IIA's Guide for Internet Users, 20th December 1999
(Users forced to buy censorship software, whether wanted or not.)
    http://www.iia.net.au/guideuser.html

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