SL Ban in Oz Worries Chicken Little
by Tenshi Vielle
Concerned Australians in Second Life are donning chicken little avatars and chirping that the sky is falling, with news of Australia's proposed ban on adult online games including Second Life circulating. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, has been nominated by the British ISP industry for its annual "internet villain" award. Meanwhile, the Inquisitr.com, which sounds well suited for a supermarket checkout lane, has this report:
"The Australian Minister for Censorship has today confirmed what I’ve been reporting for nearly two years: online adult games including Second Life will be banned in Australia.
A spokesman for Censorship Minister Stephen “Goebbels” Conroy confirmed to Fairfax newspapers that “under the filtering plan, it will be extended to downloadable games, flash-based web games and sites which sell physical copies of games that do not meet the MA15+ standard.” In Australia, the MA15+ rating means that the content is restricted to those aged 15 and above. Australia does not have a R 18+ or similar rating for computer games, with all adult games automatically being classified as RC (Refused Classification.)"
A spokesman for Censorship Minister Stephen “Goebbels” Conroy confirmed to Fairfax newspapers that “under the filtering plan, it will be extended to downloadable games, flash-based web games and sites which sell physical copies of games that do not meet the MA15+ standard.” In Australia, the MA15+ rating means that the content is restricted to those aged 15 and above. Australia does not have a R 18+ or similar rating for computer games, with all adult games automatically being classified as RC (Refused Classification.)"
This shocking news has also been confirmed at the Gamasutra.
A ban on Second Life in Australia would deprive the metaverse of such favorite hair creators as Aemilia Case and Truth Hawks, and Second Life character favorites Adam Zaius and Joshua Nightshade.
Come on yall..get some help really and get off a site where dolls are the thing it's not for porn. it's not real get it not real...
Posted by: moeshere | June 27, 2009 at 08:47 PM
I threw up a post on my blog about how Australians can use Tor to get around the blocks if they do happen. Even if they don't need it for second life they will probably need it at some point to play flash games or access other contraband. If anybody sees technical mistakes in my blog post let me know.
http://semioticdisease.ning.com/profiles/blogs/australian-secondlifers-please
Posted by: Bubblesort Triskaidekaphobia | June 28, 2009 at 12:35 AM
And nothing of Value was lost.
Posted by: Alyx Stoklitsky | June 28, 2009 at 12:16 PM
On the bright side, this means for sure LukeConnell Vandeverre won't be back... he wouldn't know how to use a Tor server if it paid him a million space bux.
Posted by: IntLibber Brautigan | June 28, 2009 at 09:01 PM
So Australia and China have something in common? They are both going to ban the scourge of the internet or porn. The people of the down under should feel so proud. Is free speech and religion on the list next to eliminate?
Posted by: Ranma Tardis | June 28, 2009 at 10:09 PM
People wishing to contact the man responsible for this stupid censership can find the detail at the end of my post.
There are also some notecards floating around in-world with this information as well as a description of why it is happening which I released last week. It is good that this side has picked up on the story.
I myself will be leaving Australia. So if you live in a country that drives on the left side of the road and have a spare room. Contact Darling Brody in-world. I always pay my rent on time, but i do sontimes blow stuff up :)
Contact details for the minister of cencership follows. (I hope they dont roll a tank over my home for posting this.)
Contact details
Parliamentary office
Suite MG70
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: 02 6277 7480
Fax: 02 6273 4154
Ministerial office
Level 4, 4 Treasury Place
Melbourne Vic 3002
Tel: 03 9650 1188
Fax: 03 9650 3251
Electorate office
Suite 1B
494 High St
Epping Vic 3076
Tel: 03 9408 0190
Fax: 03 9408 0194
email minister at dbcde.gov.au
Posted by: Darling Brody | June 29, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Given how much the good Rev. Fred Phelps seems to loathe Australia for the vast numbers of "sodomite damned" there apparently are down there, that a little adult content on teh intertubes would be that much of a problem is perplexing.
Posted by: IntLibber Brautigan | June 30, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Australians already don't have free speech by law, it is somewhat implied but not explicit. So I guess religion is next.
Information and campaigns:
Proposed Ad Protesting censorship: https://www.getup.org.au/campaign/SaveTheNet&id=684
Main campaign site: http://www.nocleanfeed.com/
Get up campaign: http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/SaveTheNet/442
On game censorship: http://www.efa.org.au/category/censorship/r18/
Posted by: Blahbie Macbain | July 11, 2009 at 12:14 PM
and from Electronic Frontiers Australia (Gaming):
"So far, however, the blacklisting scheme only applies to web sites. This means that online games such as World of Warcraft or Second Life would continue to work – only web sites making them available would be banned. Due to the limitations of filtering technology, you will be able to circumvent the filters and get to those, too. EFA will show you how – as long as the Government does not criminalize such circumvention."
The EFA/EFF is a reasonably authorative source world wide.
Posted by: Blahbie Macbain | July 11, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Everyone I know who has written the the minister has received the same reply requesting their home address. (see end of post)
Those people who replied with an address are yet to receive a reply, or they have been rounded up and shot. Either way I have not heard back from them.
The below reply is apparently covered by some kind of law preventing it's publication. So I am not permitted to tell you that the government refused to answer me until they know where I live. SCARY!!!
********************
Thank you for your recent email to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
If you would like a reply to your email, please provide your full postal address within
7 days and every effort will be made to respond to your questions and comments as soon as possible.
Please note if no address is provided within 7 days, a formal reply will not be sent, although your comments will be noted.
Yours sincerely
Parliamentary and Coordination Services
Department of Broadband,
Communications and the Digital Economy
Posted by: Anonymous Avatar | July 21, 2009 at 07:38 AM