Aussie Web filter to cover games content

Australian federal government planning to block Web sites offering or selling banned games.

Australian gamers are probably well aware of their country's strict games classification system, with the lack of an R18+ rating meaning any title not fitting under the MA15+ rating is automatically banned from sale down under. This means it is illegal to sell a game that has been refused classification in Australia, and while this has mainly been focused on retail stores, it looks like the federal government is planning to extend its reach by blocking Web sites that host or sell banned games.

The federal government's Web filtering plan--a controversial proposal that will block Internet sites containing any content that has been refused classification--will include sites hosting or selling games that have been refused classification, according to a report on the Sydney Morning Herald Web site. Under the sensationalist headline of "Web filters to censor video games," the story quotes a spokesman for Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy as saying that the filter would cover "computer games such as Web-based flash games and downloadable games, if a complaint is received and the content is determined by ACMA to be Refused Classification."

It has previously been well reported that any sites that have been refused classification by Australian censorship authorities would be targeted by the proposed filter, so it seems logical that game sites would be included. As for blocking sites that sell banned games, it has long been illegal for Australians to order games that have been refused classification from overseas and import them into the country.

For more on Australian games classification, check out our in-depth Censory Overload feature.

41 Comments

  • RonIsIZe_13

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 4:08 am PT

    There are so many threats to internet/videogame freedom that I've actually stopped caring. Philosophically I disagree with Internet filters and banning videogames but it is so easy to get around these things now. The beauty is you will actually feel more satisfied with the game if its been hard to get.

  • greenacid9

    Posted Jun 27, 2009 5:52 pm PT

    Seriously you are all idiots. I'm not on the governments side over this but I can see their point - if a game cannot be LEGALLY sold here then why allow people to sell them? I know its a stupid idea, but I can see where they're coming from. And seriously, if any of you are ACTUALLY going to change who you vote for over this - you are very stupid people.

  • DopeyDavoid

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 5:27 pm PT

    I have never voted before (just misssed out age-wise last time), but I think the decision is already made for the next election.

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 9:22 am PT

    LoL. Really now? They're thinking to block access to sites that sell games without OFLC approval. So, like what now? They're going to prevent us from logging into eBay or Play-Asia? Pfft, as if.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 12:51 am PT

    Good decision and I'm not really interested if we're in a demorcratic country or not

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 12:00 am PT

    They said this can't happen in a democratic country.

  • 3rd_moon

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 6:06 pm PT

    criegz Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:06 pm GMT .....A wise man once said;

    "In THEORY, communism works Marge, in THEORY".

    - I have no idea Homer Simpson is a wise man. We'll I guess he's more wiser than most politicians in AU.

  • so_hai

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 5:46 pm PT

    An article about and article is hearsay on hearsay - especially from that garbage paper the Sydney Morning Herald. I wouldn't take this seriously, especially as the paper is certainly not apolitical. The filter they're trying to put into place has been in effect on all media from the beginning of time anyway... Sensationalist garbage.

  • Krammin

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 5:39 pm PT

    Whatever. This whole censorship BS is getting boring. If there is a will there is a way.

  • jorel12

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 4:48 pm PT

    this country use to be free but not any more,the only other countrys that block websites are china iran and north koera,and we call our self's free,wake up people we are not free as long as govements keep trying to controll us,a govement is voted by the people for the pleople but not any more it's germany 1933 all over agian

  • metalisticpain

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:26 pm PT

    I love how they think they can stop sites that allow people to buy RC games. So Ebay is out huh? Yeah right. What a load of rubbish. There is no way they can roll this out.

    I work at an ISP and i passed it around, a lot of chuckles.

  • COD2-The_Pope

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:44 pm PT

    pfft, if they knew anything about the internet they'd know ppl will just use proxy sites.

  • FlamingFury

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    I've got nothing wrong with them chasing down sites that sell blocked games.

    I think that most of these games that are blocked are cruddy games. I mean, the only notable ones were GTA and Fallout, and they were modified prior to their US release, so it didn't even affect our release dates.

    I think the classification system is stupid, but even though we all hate it IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT US THAT MUCH.

  • Leo_Colt

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:12 pm PT

    Stephen Conroy, and all of his bullcrap, really need to die. Perhaps a violent video game will give a good idea of how to go about stopping him? OH THE IRONY!

  • ZippyDSMLee

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:37 pm PT

    Oz land good luck fighting your moral/data fascists! We are on the losing end here in the states as well..

  • mrklorox

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 11:51 am PT

    This is what happens when you don't win your independence the revolutionary way.

  • spetz_naz_basic

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 11:04 am PT

    This won't change anything as far as importing RC games is concerned. It's always been illegal, but people do it anyway because Customs have more important things to look for than games - you know, things that could actually HARM the country. There's nothing any web filter can do about that. I suspect most torrent sites will eventually be blocked though.

    Well, that's democracy I guess. You vote for someone because he made all the right promises and you think everything will change for the better with a new administration. Then once he's in power he takes away all your rights and makes you his b**** (oh swell there's a filter here too). Many a tyrannical government began like this.

  • Inconnux

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 10:48 am PT

    how stupid is that government... They will just push people into piracy using the tons of bit torrent sites. Do you ever wonder if politicians have brains?

  • andrew_dueck

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 10:01 am PT

    I wonder how much longer before the government removes the Union Jack from the corner of the flag and replaces it with a swastika...

  • giort08

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 7:30 am PT

    Ugh, WTF, are we in a Totalitarian democracy or Something? This is BS...

  • DAVO058

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 6:46 am PT

    i've also heard the GOV, say that certain stats have been colated that suggest 68% of people wanted a filter back 5 years ago......that is there defence of having it now, they wont take votes on it, they just think people think the same about it 5 years later the idiots

  • criegz

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 6:06 am PT

    By enforcing this censorship, they are only encouraging people to find out what these sites are. And yes, this is just a load of crap. A wise man once said;

    "In THEORY, communism works Marge, in THEORY".

  • aaronobst

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 5:11 am PT

    Anonymous Proxy much?

  • littlebrainmagg

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 4:52 am PT

    grrr... they are focusing more on preventing R18+ ratings than dealing with it in a civil way... damn the government

  • Weddum

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 4:44 am PT

    What a stupid thing to block flash based violent games. If somebody doesn't like what they see, then don't look at the site again. Why is that so hard? And I can't believe this guy is still going on about this Internet filter, its not going to get passed through. Not when over 95% of people object the idea.

  • hotfiree

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 4:15 am PT

    Also, theres no way in hell im voting for labour next election.

  • hotfiree

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 4:13 am PT

    Everyone in aus should cut their internet connection if this goes thru and go back to books.

  • 008Zulu

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:53 am PT

    Proves that Conroy doesnt think parents are capable or raising their own children. With luck, Australia will become the first nation to embrace the creed of Father, with his Clerics, masters of the Gun-Kata to make sure we all think and act as he wants us to.

    Took me less than 5 minutes to find methods to bypass this filter of his.

  • Wildboy124

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:40 am PT

    Urgh, here we go again... You know what we need? A child lock on all computers. I wasn't really paying attention to the government until 2001, so I can safely predict they are all at least 8 and should not be making all of these big-boy decisions.

    Seriously, how much has Australia been through? It took us AGES to become our own country, it took forever getting Broadband Internet and no one is bothering about R18+ ratings. And to top it off they are censoring what we look at. Pardon my french, but doesn't it seem as if they are trying to piss us all off?

    EDIT: Yeah, I said piss. Lets see them censor that.

  • toadman682000

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:25 am PT

    I was wondering what guise they would use to block mininova etc.

  • Superironic

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:14 am PT

    Why must there be so many preventions to get the maximum gaming experience in Australia? -_-

  • computerandy909

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:13 am PT

    where is my freedom as an aussie. i wanna do whatever i want when i surf the internet i am a free person and i am alowed a free life yet the government is just eyeing in on the communistic ways of china.

  • micallef23

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:59 am PT

    This is Australia, we do not have the right even of free speech, thats an american privlage.

  • Azghouls

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:50 am PT

    So let me get this right...

    I pay $99 for my internet connection so the gov't can dictate what I can see...

    Sounds fair...

  • boomdodger72

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:12 am PT

    Where is the line?

  • Rattlesnake_8

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 2:00 am PT

    Yup we really are free aren't we.. when other people choose what we can and can't have access too. But wait.. its for our own good remember.. *sigh*

  • mlisen

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:50 am PT

    'free speech' since when huntercal?

  • imprezawrx500

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:46 am PT

    This makes me glad I live on the other side of the tasman. Wonder if they will block the New Zealand sites which mostly carry the uncensored versions.

  • Sillygostly

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:23 am PT

    Labour can kiss my backside come next election.

  • huntercal

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:17 am PT

    This just ticks me off, we talk about a country of freedoms and free speach than the government decide to block websites. I know Ruddy is in love with China but this is just one step too far.

  • flammable_zeus

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:12 am PT

    One step closer to a Nineteen Eighty-Four scenario.

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