This post is for all our Australian readers (although if you’re international and want to donate, I’m sure no-one will say no):

Raising awareness of the Australian government’s plans to censor the internet is always a good thing, which is why I’d like everyone to check out this anti-censorship advertisement over on GetUp!  The ad basically takes a lighthearted approach to point out the proposed filter’s many flaws.  Fundraising is currently underway to get it broadcast on TV and, here’s the sneaky part, on Qantas flights inbound to Canberra:

The Government’s test trials on internet censorship are about to end, the results are nearly in and they’re looking to announce their plans to filter all internet activity.

We know exactly where every politician will be – on a Qantas flight to Canberra as Parliament resumes. Your contribution will allow us to show this ad directly to them, and their staff, making it an issue they can’t avoid.

-Censor This? campaign goals

Head on over to the fundraising page, check out the campaign site, and donate if you can.  They’ve raised over $35,000 so far, which will go towards broadcasting costs.  Given that even Child Protection agencies in Australia are against the mandatory filter now, this issue needs more coverage in the mainstream media!

There are times where I’m proud to be an Australian, with our national sense of humour and mateship, and then there are times like these where I think we truly must be one of the most backward countries on earth.

He's going to hit your interwebs from his epic mount for critical damage

So under the new government proposed internet filter, supposedly to be installed at ISP level, further to not being able to access the most vanilla of porn we’re now also told that apparently we can’t see or purchase any game that’s not suitable for 15 year olds. Seriously? 15 year olds? To put this in perspective, apparently this means Australians shouldn’t play a game targeted for anyone older than HALF of the average gamer’s age.

This is a simple extention of the filter’s denial of anything that’s been “refused classification” under our archaic classification system. Since we lack an R18+ rating, this means any game over MA15+ will be blocked by our filter.

Still don’t see the fuss? Well think about this: Australia as a country has refused classification to MMPORPG games. So if the filter is installed, Australian players of World Of Warcraft can forget playing ever again as the filter bans access to servers.

The saddest thing of all, of course, is that the implementation of the clean feed doesn’t actually mean ANY of these things. As the filter can be sidestepped by any twelve year old with access to Google and the word “proxy”, I feel even more shame about our country that we’re idiot enough to install such an expensive waste of time and resources. In the middle of a global recession of all times.

The article is right, however, when they say this is going to cause backlash of even greater proportions. Hopefully if nothing else, this highlights the need for an R18+ rating in Australia.