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Australia to block internet domains hosting extremist content during terror attacks

13 Comments
By Alison Bevege

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13 Comments
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So how does the Australian government take a domain offline if its not even based in Australia?

Many countries control a central 'hub' that their telecommunications networks go through. From there, they could theoretically throw a single switch and BAM, all incoming traffic from that domain is cut. Of course it doesn't stop all access to the domain, because there could be satellite connections, people reposting or rerouting to try and fool the filters, etc.

But it's easier than you might think. For Australia, from the maps I've been able to see, only 5 submarine cables link it to the rest of the world going into 3 sites. So from those three connections, you can stop any and all incoming telephonic traffic to Australia outside of satellite connections.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A VPN won't get you access to a domain that is taken offline. If the domain doesn't resolve, it doesn't resolve.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I wish them luck, but trying to block streaming only during events from every tiny domain in the world is impossible.

I host about 35 domains on a single machine. There are millions and millions of video streaming capable systems on the internet. Finding them all, for the 10 minutes required will be impossible. Also, if blocking them for a week or a month as punitive action doesn't happen, I doubt they'd notice. There just isn't that much traffic from NZ or AUS. Less than 3% of the total traffic I see comes from either of those countries, but the content isn't directly related to either.

His policies are not supported by other than a

few of his cultists.

No elected person has 100% support for everything they do by any thinking constituent. If we say President Trump has done 100 things, I agree with about 30 of them and I'm happy there is Congress and Federal Judges to stop the clearly discriminatory attempts in some.

Using a VPN, you can choose a DNS elsewhere, where there aren't any blocks. I use dnscrypt-proxy for this extra protection and control.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Australia will block access to internet domains hosting terrorist material during crisis events

But will allow it at other times? I don't get what they are trying to do. Seems like they will be reacting to something after it's already on the internet, and they can just post it to a different website anyway. Once it's out there, it's out there.

zichi: VPN anyone?

That hides your IP. They are talking about a block at the domain level.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Chip Star: Unfortunately no, my own government is also under the heel of the US, but I fail to see what this has to do with Australia blocking internet access. By the way, Australia is in the southern hemisphere, but yes, is controlled by US foreign policy.

You seem to have a real complex with the US - and seem to generalize the current administration with the US as a whole - that's a mistake.

The current Idiot we have in the White House was not elected by a majority of Americans. His policies are not supported by other than a few of his cultists.

Your suggestion that Australia, a valued long term partner of the US and someone with whom we share many values, is somehow under "the heel" of the US is naive at best...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Chip Star: Unfortunately no, my own government is also under the heel of the US, but I fail to see what this has to do with Australia blocking internet access. By the way, Australia is in the southern hemisphere, but yes, is controlled by US foreign policy.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

"terrorist material" is anything that is disadvantageous to the Liberal Party and Dudhead Dutton.

Asnine.

Why did you stop using the "western wimps" phrase you live so much? Did you suddenly realize you live in a western country?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Under the current Liberal Government, Australia's freedom of speech is being eroded and the people are doing nothing.

"terrorist material" is anything that is disadvantageous to the Liberal Party and Dudhead Dutton.

Is the treatment of refugees by Australia going to be considered "terrorist material"?

What about reporting of the bugging of foreign government offices is that terrorist material? 

What about reporting of war crimes by Australian troops, is that going to be regarded as terrorist material.

What about the press reporting of  telephone tapping and surveillance of Australian citizens, is that going to be regarded as terrorist material?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I would be interested in them monitoring such extremist content and cracking down on ones posting it. Terror through text is as unacceptable as any other kind of terror and developed, civilized societies have an obligation to extinguish any such instance.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

No different than China's crackdown on foreign news and the internet in the lead-up to every Tiananmen Square anniversary.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

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