Media Release

Optus to participate in ISP filtering pilot

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that Optus will participate in the Australian Government's Internet Service Provider (ISP) filtering pilot.

"Optus is an active participant in the cyber-safety space, with a range of initiatives to help Australian families enjoy a safer internet experience," Senator Conroy said. "I am pleased to announce its participation in the pilot."

"The participation of Optus will help ensure the Government obtains robust results from the pilot, which will inform the evidence-based development of our ISP filtering policy."

Optus is the second largest ISP in Australia, delivering a wide range of internet services nation-wide. It joins seven other ISPs participating in the pilotPrimus Telecommunications, Highway 1, Nelson Bay Online, Netforce, OMNIconnect, TECH 2U and Webshield.

Consultations continue with a number of other ISPs that have applied to take part in the filtering pilot.

The Government is also working constructively with Telstra on the technical testing of ISP filtering technologies. These tests do not involve actual customers and therefore are not being conducted as part of the pilot, however it is hoped that the results will feed into the Government's policy considerations.

For the purposes of the pilot, Optus will filter the Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) existing blacklist of prohibited and potentially prohibited content for a selection of its customers who volunteer to participate.

The Government is examining the introduction of ISP level filtering for Refused Classification material as identified under the National Classification Scheme and the ACMA complaints process. Refused Classification material includes child sexual abuse imagery, bestiality, sexual violence, detailed instruction in crime, violence or drug use and/or material that advocates the doing of a terrorist act.

The Government is also considering optional ISP content filtering products for those families who wish to have such a service.

Senator Conroy also announced the publication of ACMA's second report on international developments in internet filtering technologies and other measures for promoting online safety. The report outlines key trends in the promotion of online safety and e-security.

The ACMA report found that ISP level filtering plays a valuable role in preventing inadvertent access to online child sexual abuse material, with police investigation and prosecution important in targeting intentional access to illegal material.

ACMA's first report, in 2007, identified that there is no single solution to the problem of online risks and that a range of measures is required to mitigate the various online safety risks. The second report finds that this remains the case.

ISP filtering forms one component part of the Government's $125.8 million cyber-safety plan, which includes a comprehensive range of measures such as:

• law enforcement, including 91 extra Australian Federal Police officers
• education and information measures
• resources such as help-lines and websites
• consultative arrangements with industry, child protection bodies and children, and
• research to identify possible areas for further action.

For further information on the Government's cyber-safety policy, including detailed questions and answers, visit www.dbcde.gov.au/cybersafetyplan

ACMA reports are available from www.acma.gov.au/internet_filtering_online_safety

Date: 22 April 2009
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457