 No doubt by now you've all heard about the proposed Internet filter that our friendly government overlords are trying to implement, but what most web surfers may not know is that the federal minister for communications is carefully trying to slip another layer of Internet censorship under our radars, and it looks like this one could have a serious affect on the future of Digital Retribution.
About 2 months ago we were informed, via email and registered post, of the fact that all Australian based websites would require a rating from the Office of Film and Literature Classification in order to legally comply with the Government's new Internet control scheme. The new website ratings system would not be too dissimilar to the current video games system, with classifications ranging from G for content that is "very mild", up to MA15+ for sites that have been assessed to contain material that is not suitable for people under 15. As with video games, there would be no R18+ rating for more adult oriented content.
Considering the fact that our site features virtually no obscene images or video content, and the worst thing you could possibly find on our pages is some casual profanity, we considered the classification a mere formality. M maybe, or MA at worst. However we were informed yesterday at around 3:30pm that the OFLC has refused to grant Digital Retribution a classification, on the grounds that the site promoted "obscene, violent, subversive, and anti-social" material. Positive reviews of movies featuring rape, drug use, mass murder, bestiality, necrophilia, and the exploitation of "little people" were singled out by OFLC spokesperson Pilar Lofo when justifying their decision.
So how does this affect the future Digital Retribution? Well, according to new guidelines any and all websites that have not received the OFLC's tick of approval will be automatically added to the Government's Internet filter blacklist, and all Australian's will effectively be denied access to the site when the filter goes live (which will apparently be happening much sooner than most of us think).
It should be noted that the Australian government's filter system will not affect our international readers, however with a large chunk of our regular Australian based readership unable to access the site there will be no reason for us to continue.
Naturally we intend to appeal this decision. Digital Retribution will not go down without a fight!
Stay tuned for more news shortly.
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Nice one Craig.
Happy April Fools. :D
Keep the site going, please! I for one will be moving to a small filter free haven somewhere in the Solomon Islands once the changes take affect, and I urge all Australian based DR readers to do the same!