South Australian Government gags internet debate

[Testeagle]

" * Anonymous comments banned for SA election
* Michael Atkinson says speech still free
* Media says censorship is 'draconian'

SOUTH Australia has become one of the few states in the world to censor the internet.

The new law, which came into force on January 6, requires anyone making an online comment about next month's state election to publish their real name and postcode.

The law will affect anyone posting a comment on an election story on The Advertiser's AdelaideNow website, as well as other Australian news sites.

It could also apply to election comment made on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The law, which was pushed through last year as part of a raft of amendments to the Electoral Act and supported by the Liberal Party, also requires media organisations to keep a person's real name and full address on file for six months, and they face fines of $5000 if they do not hand over this information to the Electoral Commissioner."


(full story )source: http://www.news.com.au/technology/so...mpact+news_rss

that and iinet is trying to protect it's right not to be "copyright cops"
http://www.news.com.au/technology/fe...mpact+news_rss

Looking good for us down under.... thoughts? personally I think we have the right to free speech even if we choose to do it anonymously, especially when our free speech may include whistleblowing

[Xenonight2]

Free speech isn't unlimited, I guess.

[power_gamer_6]

Free speech isn't unlimited, I guess.

Of course it isn't unlimited. It never was unlimited. Not even these boards have "free speech". And I don't mean that in an antagonizing way at all, it's just a matter of fact.

[Xenonight2]

Of course it isn't unlimited. It never was unlimited. Not even these boards have "free speech".

Yep, exactly what I said.

And anyway, the new law mentioned in the OP doesn't affect the ability to state anything - simply the ability to state it anonymously... On one specific subject. A slippery slope for sure.

[V-Opolis]

wait when could you say awhatever you wanted without having to think first?

[hobosexual]

Australia is clearly batshit insane.

It's a beautiful country and all but who would honestly want to live there.

wait when could you say awhatever you wanted without having to think first?

Since always?

[Paladuck]

I can't think of many contexts where freedom of speech is more important than in the political realm. This is a ridiculously stupid and unenforceable law. Presumably there would be little to stop anyone from using a fake name or postal code.

[Testeagle]

I don't have any major issue to the privately run sites keeping the name and postcode of a poster (especially if threats are made) but I do think not being able to change the published details a bit worrying, personally I don't want every nut job I may or may not argue with on the net having my real name and my postcode. The Australian government seems to be going a little heavy handed over the last 6 months with censoring the internet, removing anonymity and trying to slug ISPs with the responsibility of what their users download.