Mandatory ISP Filtering for a Clean Feed to Australian Internet Subscribers

The Australian Government intends to mandate filtering at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level to provide a “clean feed” to all subscribers. It claims the current arrangement that includes optional filtering at the Personal Computer (PC) level has failed to protect children from unsuitable Internet content. This paper addresses three key questions that are relevant to IT professionals everywhere because they concern important societal and ethical issues. First, has the current co-regulatory system failed to protect children? Second, is a “clean feed” feasible and practicable? Finally, even if a “clean feed” is feasible and practicable should the Government legislate for it?