#nocleanfeed, strategy, and direction shifts

There's a growing buzz amongst the #nocleanfeed communities - the issue is being framed as a censorship and freedom of speech issue more and more.

This is being driven largely by the DLC.

I don't like that; it's not what motivates me; its not how I get people on side. We don't have freedom of speech here in Australia except around political issues. When has that ever stopped us from saying what we want, though? As a society, we're more than happy to say what we want. If someone says nasty things about us, we don't get our panties in a twist about it; we call them a wanker and ignore them.

What does motivate me is how dishonest the government has been through this process.

1) They call it a "clean feed"; but it won't actually work. A more descriptive name: thing that will annoy the shit out of you every 3 days on the internet.
2) It won't work like they want, but the government won't listen to their own trials, industry and the public. That makes them stupid.
3) Its a people issue. Not a technology issue. It is pretty obvious that is the case.
Think of it like gun control - guns don't kill people; people kill people. Answer: don't let stupid people have guns, or arrest stupid people who do stupid things with stupid guns.
4) Conroy is a wanker. He acts like a child and won't answer questions in Question Time. He makes a mockery of our political process
5) Conroy (his office at least) threatened Mark Newton's job. That's unaustralian, stupid, and the act of a first class fuckwit.
6) This childish fuckwit is spending our tax money on his 1984 reenactment wet dream. Why?
7) If it is a problem; how come I don't hear more about it happening to my friends, family and workmates - my child was preyed upon by an internet sicko? The truth is, it doesn't happen.
8) IF THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM AFTER ALL; WHY NOT SPEND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE USEFUL, LIKE THE POLICE?

Letter to Kate Ellis

Dear Ms Ellis,
I am concerned about the ALP's policy to implement a Clean Feed internet filter. As I understand it, you are somewhat aware of this issue; and have met with Mark Newton; who discussed various technical details with you.

This is evidently an emotional issue from both sides – Sen. Conroy taking the save the children line, and many others, including myself, saying fine, but don't break my internet to do it.

My concerns stem from the fact I make my living as a software engineer, and my work literally could not exist without a free and open, responsive internet.
An internet filter as has been described would damage me; not to mention the Australian economy – it is no coincidence that breakthroughs in mass communication are tied to massive economic growth.

Also, by pursuing this technical solution so aggressively, Sen. Conroy has disregarded legitimate technical concerns; and demonstrated he is out of touch with the very field he is meant to be the Minister for.
I can only imagine that many employees of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy are embarrassed beyond belief; by the factual errors, by the rhetoric.
Let's not even touch on the fact they are meant to be providing both a Clean Feed (which will slow the Internet) and ubiquitous, fast broadband to all Australians.

So; my questions:

Is your position still one of support for the Clean Feed?
Have you researched more into the technical issues after your discussion with Mr Newton?
Would the ALP be open to different proposals; such as increased funding for policing and enforcement against child pornographers?
Or funding / encouraging the creation of ISPs like http://www.webshield.net.au/ ?


See also: protest pictures, nocleanfeed.