Australia Considering Review of Website Blacklist

CANBERRA, Australia — The federal government is considering having a panel of eminent Australians or a parliamentary committee review its secret blacklist of banned websites to try to increase "transparency" in the proposed Internet censorship plan.

The controversial Internet filtering plan, which has been under consideration in various forms for years, is based on blocking websites on a prepared "blacklist" at the ISP level.

Communications Minister Sen. Stephen Conroy told a Senate hearing that the government was "considering options for greater transparency and accountability in respect of the blacklist," including a regular review of the list by a panel of eminent persons or parliamentary committee or a review of complaints by the classification board.

The blacklist of sites, which has existed since 2000, contains a reported 977 websites and is maintained by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Sites are added to the list based on complaints from the public, groups and law enforcement agencies. Authority officials have reported a 90 percent increase in complaints about websites in the last 18 months, and attributed this to greater public awareness of the list.

The list has been given to the makers of Internet filters, but publication of the list is a criminal offense. This has led to objections that websites could be listed without their knowledge and without any opportunity to challenge their inclusion.

In March, a whistleblower website published a list of websites it claimed was the blacklist. The list included child porn, bestiality, rape and extreme violence sites — but also online poker sites and the website of a dentist.

The filtering proposal has attracted criticism on free speech grounds. Critics also say it will be ineffective and will slow Internet speeds.

Some 30,000 Internet users have been invited to participate in trials of the filtering system through nine Internet service providers. Conroy said the results of the trials, which are expected to end in July, would be considered along with possible transparency measures before the Government makes a final decision on implementation of the filtering policy. Conroy has promised to release a report on the results of the trials.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

CORRECTION: Pornhub to Remain Live in Ohio, Despite AV Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo will not block access to its websites in Ohio, despite new state age verification rules that came into effect Sept. 30.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'ADHD-Friendly' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers with ADHD.

Judge Dismisses Some Claims in 'Children of Pornhub' Trafficking Suit

A United States district judge on Friday dismissed some but not all claims against Aylo in a long-running case involving CSAM allegations featured in the influential 2020 New York Times article “The Children of Pornhub.”

Pornhub Shuts Down Access in Ohio Over Age Verification

Aylo began geoblocking Pornhub across the state of Ohio on Tuesday, as the state’s age verification law goes into effect.

FSC Sets Key Dates, Qualifiers for December Board of Directors Election

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) today announced key dates and qualifiers for its upcoming Board of Directors election.

RedGIFs Launches New 'Studio' Creator Platform

RedGIFs has launched its new Studio creator platform.

Arcom to Expand AV Enforcement to Smaller Adult Sites

The president of French media regulator Arcom revealed on Thursday that the agency plans to escalate its enforcement of age verification rules to include smaller adult sites, starting in late 2025 or early 2026.

AEBN Publishes Report on MILF, Cougar Trends

AEBN has published a report on MILF and Cougar categories from its straight theaters.

Pornhub to Shut Down Access in Arizona Over Age Verification

Aylo will geoblock Pornhub across Arizona starting Sept. 26, when the state’s age verification law, HB 2112, goes into effect.

Flirtback Embraces Crypto With Zcash Payments

Creator platform Flirtback has launched its Zcash (ZEC) crypto payment solution.

Show More