Evidence Based Assessment Using research and analysis

The current discussion concerning the Mandatory ISP Level Filtering proposal in Australia is slated as being undertaken on an 'evidence based approach'. Therefore, using an Action Research approach, I aim to determine the problem that people believe this will solve and the best approaches to combat mis-information about the proposal.

There is no coherently stated policy for the implementation of a mandatory filtered feed of World Wide Web pages.

1. Protecting children from viewing unsavoury material
• Everyone has the right to define their own morals
• Everyone has the right to different morals
• No one has the right to enforce their morals on others
2. Restricting access to illegal material
• Illegal materials are illegal
• Legality is subject to change
• Different jurisdictions
• Defining knowledge as illegal
3. Censorship
• Restricting access to knowledge
• Protecting people from knowledge that may harm them (subjective)
• Political speech
4. Other Protocols
• What Internet protocols are able to be filtered?
• How many protocols are there currently?
• What about new forms of communication?
5. Cost
• Who pays?
• How much?
• Maintaining currency of information?
• Opportunity costs?
6. Form of implementation
• Individual or ISP
• Opt in or Opt out
• A layered approach (aka mandatory + opt in layer)
• By protocol
• Illegal or unsavoury

1. Children
• Definition of Children
• Age related content?
• Too much knowledge at too young an age?
2. Youth
• Definition of Youth
• Learning potential of networks
• Learning about boundaries
3. Young Adults
• Definition of Young Adults
• Independence?
• Learning to choose
4. Educators
• Access to information
• Access to sources of relevant knowledge
• Age appropriate lessons
• Technical skills to maintain computer
• Shifts in knowledge formation processes
5. Electorate
• Adults >18 years
• Infantalisation - taking away rights
• Free speech
• Diversity
• Choice (infinite - simpler choices come with censorship)
6. Vendors
• Vested interest in seeing more use of filters
• Filter led recovery?
• Fanning moral panic
• Obfuscating problems
7. Policy makers
• Succumbing to Moral panic
• Vested interest in maintaining position
• Paternalistic - we know what's best
• Respond to vocal groups (Lobby groups)

1. Freedom of Speech
2. Morality
3. Election strategies
4. Cashing in (Vendors)
5. Fear mongering
6. Doing the right thing (see above)

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