Australian Computer Society
Media Release
Computer Society welcomes Senate Internet Regulation Report
The ACS participated in the committee's seminar on 4 April and considers the report provides a good summary of the issues.
The ACS welcomed the committees efforts to encourage dialogue between public policy makers and the on-line community to discuss workable solutions to controlling potentially offensive information. By the innovation of making the transcript of the 4 April seminar available on the Internet, the committee has demonstrated how public policy makers can make innovative use of this new medium.
The ACS supports pratical measures for parents to control what their children are accessing on the Internet; an education campaign on safe use of the Internet and codes of conduct for system operators. The ACS will be considering the issue further at its National Council Meeting in Brisbane on Friday, before the ITWorld'95 conference.
Tom Worthignton, Director of the ACS Community Affairs Board, who appeared before the Senate committee in April, will give further evidence at 10 am Friday.
"The ACS is not "pro" or "anti" network regulation, so much as interested in assisting the community make choices on the use of technology for community benefit. The ACS has assisted in Government and Parliamentary inquiries and with public discussion and education. The ACS is committed to applying information technology in the service of the community."
Tom Worthington questioned the need for another Internet regulation inquiry, announced by the Minister for Communications and to be conducted by the Australian Broadcasting Authority. He noted that the Senate committee report also questioned the purpose of the ABA inquiry.
The ACS submission and further details are available on the Internet at the "Australian Internet Regulation Inquiries Home page":
Media contact:
Tom Worthington MACS
Director of the ACS Community Affairs Board
Australian Computer Society
G.P.O. Box 446
Canberra A.C.T. 2601
Telephone: (06) 2474830
Fax: (06) 249 6419
E-mail: tom.worthington@tomw.net.au
21 September 1995