[plug] Censorship and linux

[Michael Hunt]

Any other takers. I can put a web page together, post to some mail list,
news groups etc. I have a design goal that I could formulate.

I think the main advantage is for people to be able to see what it is
filtering and to be able to modify it easily. I don't know if a flat text
file will be appropriate (given the mass content of data) but if it is open
(unlike the others) then it is free from criticism. The only other thing is
"on the fly" filtering with password protection for the children. (Adults
can override).

Do people think something like this could really get off the ground and not
just be something that gets kicking around on a mailing list like this ???

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-plug at linux.org.au [mailto:owner-plug at linux.org.au]On Behalf
Of Oliver White
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 6:31 PM
To: plug at linux.org.au
Subject: Re: [plug] Censorship and linux


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.