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I live in Australia and get to see first hand everyday just how backwards our country is (I'm guessing you do as well). We are regarded as one of the United Sta

I live in Australia and get to see first hand everyday just how backwards our country is (I'm guessing you do as well). We are regarded as one of the United States closest allies and friends, as well as trade partners. Do you think Australia would say no if the US said, "This country is illegally infringing on our copyrights and selling pirated material, we ask if you would please kindly block this site" I am only assuming, but something tells me we wouldn't say no and there's no way to dispel that until push came to shove. The ISP case you speak of (is different to what I am proposing could happen. That case was in regards to whether or not an ISP should be held liable for its users actions and whether or not ISP's should be monitoring traffic to ensure it's customers aren't infringing. Filtering on the other hand is an already partially implemented thing, it's for filtering sites related to child abuse and other banned and obscene content (at the moment), but that's not to say it couldn't be used to block "other" URL's as well. While we as a country haven't followed the United States lead on piracy (most likely due to stark differences between how our Governments and legal system works) that's not to say it couldn't happen. I mean our country only just passed an 18+ rating for computer games...

defrost 14y ago
As you live in Australia you are, assuming citizenship, as much "Australia" as anybody else can claim to be. Currently the only blocking happening all across Australia at the country level is that of Interpol listed actual child porn sites and that debate about whether or not that is the right approach is still ongoing - take part in it. Should the US request the blocking of a non US site that is trading US copyrighted material but not breaking International law I wouldn't assume that Australia would comply with that request. iiNet has already declined to comply with US industry requests to rat out the free trade of US copyright material and various russian sites that charge for access to massive databases of US copyrighted music and movies haven't yet been blocked either. I live in Australia, yes, I've also travelled the world extensively and I've first hand knowledge of just how backwards many countries are; I'd urge you to maintain your rage and nuture it to maturity and become engaged in Australian policy as that's all that prevents us from being as backwards as you think. Australia has problems, yes, but they are, with various exceptions such as Aboriginal health and community relations, pretty much first world problems.
- DigitalSea 14y ago
  Defeost, I like you. That was a really good reply, I completely agree with all of your points. I would love to be able to play a more important part in shaping the direction of this country's morals especially on topics such as copyright infringement. It's a very complex and definitely hard thing to debate, there are pros and cons no matter what side you choose to stand on. Definitely agree on the problems front. Indigenous health is something that definitely has a long way to go and is very much a serious problem worth more time and consideration as opposed to a first world problem which at this stage hasn't even happened yet.

defrost 14y ago

As you live in Australia you are, assuming citizenship, as much "Australia" as anybody else can claim to be. Currently the only blocking happening all across Australia at the country level is that of Interpol listed actual child porn sites and that debate about whether or not that is the right approach is still ongoing - take part in it. Should the US request the blocking of a non US site that is trading US copyrighted material but not breaking International law I wouldn't assume that Australia would comply with that request. iiNet has already declined to comply with US industry requests to rat out the free trade of US copyright material and various russian sites that charge for access to massive databases of US copyrighted music and movies haven't yet been blocked either. I live in Australia, yes, I've also travelled the world extensively and I've first hand knowledge of just how backwards many countries are; I'd urge you to maintain your rage and nuture it to maturity and become engaged in Australian policy as that's all that prevents us from being as backwards as you think. Australia has problems, yes, but they are, with various exceptions such as Aboriginal health and community relations, pretty much first world problems.

DigitalSea 14y ago
Defeost, I like you. That was a really good reply, I completely agree with all of your points. I would love to be able to play a more important part in shaping the direction of this country's morals especially on topics such as copyright infringement. It's a very complex and definitely hard thing to debate, there are pros and cons no matter what side you choose to stand on. Definitely agree on the problems front. Indigenous health is something that definitely has a long way to go and is very much a serious problem worth more time and consideration as opposed to a first world problem which at this stage hasn't even happened yet.