Optus Opted In

Trialling the internet filter that may now ban 'Refused Classification material.'

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By Nathan Davis on 22 April, 2009

When the officially appointed ISPs were finally announced in early February to trial Australia’s mandatory internet filter, we were somewhat befuddled at the companies chosen. Most are relatively tiny ISPs, those being Tech 2U, Webshield, OMNIconnet, Netforce, Highway 1, and probably the largest of the lot, Primus.

Today, perhaps bringing some degree of sense to the issue, our communications minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, announces that Optus is now included in that inner circle of triallers. “Optus is an active participant in the cyber-safety space,” says Conroy, “with a range of initiatives to help Australian families enjoy a safer internet experience.” These existing initiatives, however, are entirely optional should a customer wish for their internet to be magically made morally Optus-safe.

As in the past, the Senator continues to insist that the trials are all about gathering evidence, and presumably not just searching for excuses to turn our service providers into internet police. “The participation of Optus will help ensure the Government obtains robust results from the pilot, which will inform the evidence-based development of our ISP filtering policy,” he says.

Considering Optus is the second largest provider in Australia, this will most certainly provide a wider pool of potential participants for the results, but ‘potential’ is the keyword. No one will be forced to endure the trials as it’s entirely voluntary whether one participates – this is very much unlike the ultimate goal to make the morally arbitrary filter mandatory. Whether such opt-in trials can produce real-world results is dubious, at best, as it’s somewhat improbable that those child predators we keep hearing about are going to take the plunge and demonstrate how easy it is to get past.

Interestingly, Telstra will now also provide technical test results for the filter. “These tests do not involve actual customers and therefore are not being conducted as part of the pilot,” explains the announcement, “however it is hoped that the results will feed into the Government’s policy considerations.” Along with iiNet and Internode, Telstra has previously spoken out against the filter, calling it “technically impossible” and “a bad idea”.

Scarily, however, the announcement also includes the consideration of banning Refused Classification content. “The Government is examining the introduction of ISP level filtering for Refused Classification material as identified under the National Classification Scheme and the ACMA complaints process.”

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