One Step Ahead

In 1999, Australia passed laws to censor the Internet, but they are having little effect due to the global nature of the Internet. Most of the Web sites with "offensive content" are located outside Australia, which makes it almost impossible for them to be blocked adequately.

Well, doh! Way back in 1999, while politicians were claiming that this would bring an end to pornography and illegal materials on the Internet in Australia, everybody who had even an inkling of understanding about how the Net works knew that it wouldn't make any real difference. It was just a political stand taken by the Government in order to strike a deal with an Independent senator. We've got about as much chance of a "clean Internet" as we have of a "clean Olympics"!

For your reference, here is the article I wrote in 1999 when the legislation first came into effect.