By Rich Bowden:

Greens’ communications spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, has launched his party’s comprehensive approach to cyber safety, as an alternative to the Government’s contentious internet filter.

The policy would include PC-based filtering, further research into cyber safety risks, strengthened law enforcement, and net literacy education, said a Greens statement released today.

In launching the policy, Senator Ludlam said there were better ways than the Government’s filter proposal to ensure internet safety.

“The Greens believe Australians need a world-class national broadband network but we don’t need the Australian Government looking over our shoulder and filtering what we see,” Senator Ludlam said.

“I’ve long been on the record as a critic of the Government’s proposed mandatory ISP level filter. This has always been due to the simple fact that it won’t work, and it risks a number of unacceptable consequences,” he said.

However Senator Ludlam said the Greens agreed with the aim of the Government’s ISP filter, if not its method.

“The Greens have no hesitation endorsing the need to protect young people from exploitation or distressing and harmful online experiences, and today I will outline practical ways to make a real impact on these problems,” he said.

Speaking at a forum on cyber safety in Brisbane with Australian Greens lead Senate Candidate Larissa Waters, the Greens promoted a household-based filtering system, which they contend would be more effective in protecting children.

“Queensland’s online community has been particularly disparaging of Labor’s mandatory internet filter, and want it to be dumped not just suspended. They can see that a voluntary filter at the household level would be more effective to protect kids,” Ms Waters said.

“Filtering has a role in preventing accidental exposure to material that is inappropriate for a young audience.  But rather than filtering a very limited range of material at the ISP level that does not include, for example, X rated pornography or gambling sites, let’s place an obligation upon ISPs to offer PC-based filtering solutions that can be customised to block a much broader range of content at the household PC level,” she said.

Sen Ludlam said his party would also recommend further research into the source of threats to young people adding they would look to law enforcement authorities to prevent such threats.

“The response that most people would like to see to child abuse is law enforcement.  They would like to see the people responsible identified and prosecuted.  The Greens advocate earmarked federal funding to boost cyber crime units in State and Territory police forces, and the establishment of a single, online contact point for cyber crime reporting and cross-jurisdictional coordination of the police response,” he said.

Tags: cyber crime greens plan, greens cyber safety, isp filter, sen scott ludlam