Web filters to censor video games (1 Viewer)

[JonathanM]

The Federal Government has now set its sights on gamers, promising to use its internet censorship regime to block websites hosting and selling video games that are not suitable for 15 year olds.
Separately, the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, has been nominated by the British ISP industry for its annual "internet villain" award, competing alongside the European Parliament and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Australia is the only developed country without an R18+ classification for games, meaning any titles that do not meet the MA15+ standard - such as those with excessive violence or sexual content - are simply banned from sale by the Classification Board, unless they are modified to remove the offending content.
So far, this has only applied to local bricks-and-mortar stores selling physical copies of games, but a spokesman for Senator Conroy confirmed that under the filtering plan, it will be extended to downloadable games, flash-based web games and sites which sell physical copies of games that do not meet the MA15+ standard.
This means that even Australians who are aged above 15 and want to obtain the adult-level games online will be unable to do so. . It will undoubtedly raise the ire of gamers, the average age of which is 30 in Australia, according to research commissioned by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia.
Colin Jacobs, spokesman for the online users' lobby group Electronic Frontiers Australia, said the Government clearly went far beyond any mandate it had from the public to help parents deal with cyber-safety.
He said Australians would soon learn this the hard way when they find web pages mysteriously blocked.
"This is confirmation that the scope of the mandatory censorship scheme will keep on creeping," said Mr Jacobs.
"Far from being the ultimate weapon against child abuse, it now will officially censor content deemed too controversial for a 15-year-old. In a free country like ours, do we really need the government to step in and save us from racy web games?"
Senator Conroy's spokesman said the filter would cover "computer games such as web-based flash games and downloadable games, if a complaint is received and the content is determined by ACMA to be Refused Classification". All games that exceed MA15+ are deemed to be RC.
The filtering could also block "the importation of physical copies of computer games sold over the internet which have been classified RC", the spokesman said.
Mark Newton, an ISP engineer and internet filtering critic, said the move to extend the filtering to computer games would place a cloud over online-only games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life, which aren't classified in Australia due to their online nature.
He said the online distribution of such games has historically been exempt from customs controls on RC material because they have only ever covered physical articles.
"That exemption is the only reason why multi-player games with user-generated environments are possible in this country; without it, it'd only take one game user anywhere in the world to produce objectionable content in the game environment to make the Australian Government ban the game for everyone," said Newton.
Nine ISPs are trialling the web censorship plan, which will block all content that has been "refused classification" by ACMA. Results of the trials are due to be published in July.
In Britain, Senator Conroy was nominated for the annual internet villain award "for continuing to promote network-level blocking despite significant national and international opposition", George White, press officer with Britain's Internet Services Providers' Association, said.
"We would be delighted if Mr Conroy wishes to attend the Awards and collect the trophy should he win," Mr White said.
Senator Conroy's spokesman refused to comment on the award.

Web filters to censor video games


We can cry foul at Conroy all we want, but lets face the facts, even if Conroy were to resign tomorrow, the web filter policy would continue. It is not Conroy's initiative; it is Labor's initiative. Failure.

 

[DavidBenGurion]

fuk me

what's conroy's number?

time to get vigilant!

 

[Omium]

This Video correctly depicts the ability to effectively censor video games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uPRRIBjVbo

 

[Serius]

What the shit....fuck i hate this Conroy fag. What the fuck is his problem? he does realize that the average age of a gamer is over 30 right? The MAJORITY of gamers are over 18 and want to play mature content...

I wonder what will happen if he tries to fuck with steam...its now the biggest distributer of games in australia and valve are pretty cashed up, they will fight for their right to compete in the market...especially considering their content is aimed at mature gamers.

 

[Uncle]

Looks like someone a little too young has been seeing too many goatse, tubgirl and gaysex sprays in a nice game of Counter-Strike Source.

Good. No more little underage high pitched faggots on counter-strike.

Don't forget Halo.
Infamous for young children whose first FPS is Halo.

 

[Serius]

Good. No more little underage high pitched faggots on counter-strike.

You realise the opposite is going to happen right?

its not "no more under age fags in counterstrike"

its more like no more counterstrike for anyone, and the only games we can play will be filled with underage fags.

 

[JonathanM]

You realise the opposite is going to happen right?

its not "no more under age fags in counterstrike"

its more like no more counterstrike for anyone, and the only games we can play will be filled with underage fags.

No, Counter Strike will be allowed. All games at the MA15+ rating or below are allowed, which is most games. Only games like Fallout 3, Leisure Suit Larry etc. will be banned or heavily edited.

A move like this won't have that much of an impact, but it's the principals of it, that the Government is trying to dictate what adults can see or do.

Ffs, all those who are criticising Conroy, please understand it's not him that is the problem. I'm sure he hates this portfolio he's been given, it's the worst possible PR. If you want to stop this from happening, don't vote for Labor next election, it's their policy and Conroy or not it's what they want to see happen.

 

[Sicherhetsdient]

Dont vote for either of the major parties.

 

[JonathanM]

Dont vote for either of the major parties.

Vote for who then? We have shit small parties. Family first are conservative baby boomer religious nuts, the Greens are fucking dirty hippies and the Democrats are just fucked in the head. Only ones left to vote for then are the Protectionist party xD

I think I'll stick it safe with the Liberals

 

[Riet]

If BOS gets blocked, meet me in Canberra on Nov 5.

 

[Serius]

No, Counter Strike will be allowed. All games at the MA15+ rating or below are allowed, which is most games. Only games like Fallout 3, Leisure Suit Larry etc. will be banned or heavily edited.

A move like this won't have that much of an impact, but it's the principals of it, that the Government is trying to dictate what adults can see or do.

Ffs, all those who are criticising Conroy, please understand it's not him that is the problem. I'm sure he hates this portfolio he's been given, it's the worst possible PR. If you want to stop this from happening, don't vote for Labor next election, it's their policy and Conroy or not it's what they want to see happen.

Yeah counterstrike probably wouldnt be touched, but i could see a lot of future games with similiar content being mauled, left for dead for example is pretty graphic.

The thing is, i am fearful it will have a large impact, because i see this legislation as the first step for the censors to start moving in on internet gaming. Are they going to shut down sites with fun little porn games? dating sims? anything from japan? the gaming industry is mostly made up of adults, why cant we play R18+ games?

BTW i think Connroy loves this legislation, judging from the handful of appearances on tv and duscussion pannels he is a total douchebag who actually beleives all of this rubbish. His face and him talking just makes me want to punch him...i dont know if i could restrain myself if i saw him in public.

If BOS gets blocked, meet me in Canberra on Nov 5.

erm.. in front of which building will the err "protest" occur?

 

[AsyLum]

WoW as an enemy.

Blizzard crits Labor Government.

 

[dieburndie]

One problem with policies that ban games outright to supposedly protect children from accessing them is the unavoidable implication that the current government classification system is ineffective.

It's like they're saying "It doesn't work with films and TV, so fuck it, with video games we won't let games with mature level content be SOLD AT ALL"

Exactly the same principle used in opt-out internet filtering. Let's address Australia's comparatively low levels of violent/sex crime by BANNING ALL BAD STUFF.

This government's policies on censorship and technology would be considered to be a complete joke in any other western democracy. It would've been nice if Labor let everyone know how socially conservative/completely fucking insane they were planning to be before the last federal election.

FUCK.

 

[Iron]

i've always said that i'm an economic conservative and that goes to the core of what working families expect back door wacko

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

i've always said that i'm an economic conservative and that goes to the core of what working families expect back door wacko

Uh?

 

[Teclis]

WoW as an enemy.

Blizzard crits Labor Government.

I just have this image of one of the DotA characters walking out of a court case against the federal goverment, dressed up in a suit with "M-m-monster kill" playing in the background

 

[aussie-boy]

How can an intelligent man like K Rudd possibly see any positive side to such legislation?

I thought we voted in an open minded, sensible, smart and innovative PM - who would perhaps embody the progressive policies of his predecessors. Clearly not.

 

[cactuar]

“The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.”
Adolf Hitler, 1943

sums up this censorship fiasco perfectly. while i do believe that this govt is going down this path because they actually believe that it will help, it is still disgusting that they are doing it. the only reason why it isnt being fought against as much as it should is due to how genuinely uneducated most adults today are about technology..

 

[sam04u]

“The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.”
Adolf Hitler, 1943

sums up this censorship fiasco perfectly. while i do believe that this govt is going down this path because they actually believe that it will help, it is still disgusting that they are doing it. the only reason why it isnt being fought against as much as it should is due to how genuinely uneducated most adults today are about technology..

holy fuck a cactuar
and hes talking about adolf hitler

 

[SylviaB]

Good. No more little underage high pitched faggots on counter-strike.

fuck you're retarded.