Campaign Announcement

21 July 1997

Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc announces the launch of a campaign against unnecessary Internet censorship laws, a threat posed by a statement of principles 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.

• See the Campaign web page
• Join the EFA Action List - send E-mail 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

Background:
DCA principles released 15 July 1997:
http://www.dca.gov.au/policy/fwork_4_online_svces/framework.htm

Return to EFA Home Page

Copyright © 1997 Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc.