14 Feb 2012 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
An Australian journalist who was detained in Egypt on the first anniversary of the ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak has been freed. Cairo-based freelance writer Austin Mackell was detained alongside an American student and their Egyptian translator in the northern city of al-Mahalla al-Kubra on Saturday while covering a nationwide strike led by workers. Mackell, who writes his own blog and has contributed to the Guardian, the Canberra Times and Russia Today, has said he was accused of spying and inciting people to strike, an accusation he denies.
6 Jul 2011 | Digital Freedom, Index Index, minipost
Australian service providers, including Telstra and Optus, will voluntarily block websites deemed by the government as showing and disseminating child pornography. Those who attempt to access the blacklisted sites will be redirected to the site of the International Criminal Police Organisation. Wikileaks revealed that on the blacklist are some gay and straight porn sites, fringe religious groups, and Wikipedia sites.
9 Nov 2010 | News
My Australian countrymen are a frank species. Compare and contrast the mealymouthed slogan used in a UK road safety campaign, “never EVER drink and drive” with the robust tagline used in my home state, “If you drink, then drive, you’re a bloody idiot.”
Unusually Hampshire Police have intervened in this cultural divide warning a local mechanic he could face prosecution for advertising an Australian engine starter called Start Ya Bastard — and yes it is a real product.
Nick Palmer, who sells the spray, has a large advert for the product on his van and has been told by police he could face prosecution for a Public Order offence; presumably a section five offence using abusive or insulting words that could cause harassment, alarm or distress. According to Metro, where I spotted the story, Hampshire police said: “If a complaint were to be received it could be regarded as an offence.”
Surely there is an obligation to treat such complaints with a little commonsense? What percentage of the public are alarmed and distressed by the word?
12 Oct 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has renewed her support for a controversial new web filter, saying the measure was driven by a “moral question“. The proposed filter will block access to material such as rape, drug use, bestiality and child abuse. Internet giants Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have criticised the plans, saying they set a worrying precedent for further censorship. There are also fears that the restrictions could be applied to legitimate information on issues such as euthanasia, abortion and drug addiction, as well as media reporting on criminal activity.
