Education, not filtering, is the answer to internet porn
There’s passionate debate going on in Australia about the justification for internet censorship. And as usual, there are persuasive arguments both for and against. I won’t attempt to summarise everything, but here are some key points:
Child protection charity Child Wise argues that blocking illegal material (which should not be produced or stored in the first place) cannot be regarded as censorship. CEO Bernadette McMenamin believes that blocking sexual abuse images can work effectively and efficiently.
Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University, accuses some extreme libertarians and ISP executives of indulging in absurd exaggerations. He denies that filtering will inevitably compromise the surfing experience of mainstream internet users, and takes issue with the libertarian fear of restricting “our internet”:
The internet does not belong to the net libertarians, who seem to believe they inhabit a cyber-nation that is beyond normal forms of social regulation. The net belongs to all of us and, like other forms of communication, is subject to our collective decisions.
But it’s the viewpoint of Michael Malone, head of ISP iiNet, that really struck a chord with me.
An ISP filter is not the silver bullet the government is hoping for and perhaps the solution may just be simply the less intrusive option of greater education for parents, teachers, young people and the broader Australian public.
Of course, strict internet filtering at ISP source can go some way towards removing abusive pornography from public reach. It renders such material off limits, but provides no context or education for those who may wish to consume it. Much wider education and awareness initiatives are the better proposal in my view.
No filtering is the answer to Internet porn.
Educate people all you want, the urge for sexual gratification is too strong for 90% of men to resist.
When you have porn coming down the Internet pipes 24/7 it is nothing less than INEVITABLE that you will have mass addiction.
Education, and client-side filtering are both ineffectual in one’s individual battle against porn.
Is “education” like the porn industry owned “RTA label”?!
Ha, as if that attempt at “education” (really saving their own face) will make the slightest bit of difference.
Hi Whatever,
A parallel has been suggested between internet porn and every home in the country having a free wine tap installed in the living room. Inevitably there would be a surge of alcoholic casualties.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers here, but it’s an intriguing debate. Are you advocating ISP-level filtering?
Jason
Yes, absolutely.
I am not ashamed of asking for such a solution either, it seems entirely logical.