[plug] Censorship and linux

Oliver White ojw at iinet.net.au
Tue Aug 17 18:30:58 WST 1999


I don't feel up to coding this by myself, but I'm willing to donate some
time if a few people want to contribute. I know C well enough. I guess
we could just see who's interested, then talk to the ISPs/Government
about it. Seems like a worthy project.

Bradley Browne wrote:
> 
> This seems like an excellent idea.  The web restriction tools I have used have
> had dubious value as far as I am concerned and I think that if anyone could
> contribute to it (including gov) then it could be rock solid.  Client side
> filtering is really the only feasible alternative.  I just can't believe that
> parents give kids carte blanche when it comes to accessing a resource like the
> Internet.
> 
> Even my brothers were smart enough to keep "inappropriate" stuff away from me
> when I was young.
> 
> Brad
> 
> Michael Hunt wrote:
> 
> > > > But for any of this to happen you need to change the law which
> > > is basically
> > > > that the ISP has to filter this content. An all-round
> > > unworkable solution
> > > > for the very reasons above.
> > >
> > > Well yes, I expect the legislation to crumble under its own weight
> > > eventually.
> >
> > Well are people interested in developing something like this ??? It makes a
> > good alternative to be able to have for the government. Say the following
> > scenario.
> >
> > 1. Free open source prototype of a client end filtering tool. Filters can be
> > configured easily by user. Needs to run on a variety of platforms.
> > 2. Web site set-up to promote the software plus sign ISP's up to give it
> > away to customers. Easily be able to modify the splash screen at start-up so
> > that it says something like blah filtering software proudly brought to you
> > by blah ISP and the open source community.
> > 3. Government crumbles under the weight of the legislation and regulates
> > that ISP's make available open source filtering software. Funding comes
> > through Government for the maintaining of the software and list of sites
> > deemed unacceptable by the censure bureau can be available for download.
> >
> > I think with enough support something like this could actually work for
> > everyone, and the open source movement would be praised for their great
> > resourcefulness.
> >
> > Could ask every ISP in OZ to donate $100 towards its funding to get the ball
> > rolling. There is something like 400+ ISP's in OZ which would give you
> > $40,000 for the project. Enough to employ a programmer for the project.


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