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ALIA urges the Tasmanian government to reverse its decision to introduce filtering softwareALIA wrote to The Tasmanian Minister for Education, The Hon Paula Wreidt MHA, on 15 December 2005 urging her to reverse her decision announced on 10 December 2005 to use filtering software in public libraries and Online Access Centres in Tasmania. ALIA has also written to the federal minister for communications, informaton technology and the arts in support of the federal government's policy position on internet filtering and education for safe and informed use of the internet.
15 December 2005 Dear Minister I am writing to express the concern of our members about your recent decision to require all Tasmanian public libraries and online access centres to use filtering software. The sssociation believes that this is a flawed policy approach and poor risk management as it will deny to Tasmania's library users their democratic right of access to legitimate and appropriate information, and diminish the essential role education of users plays in safe and informative use of the internet. The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is the professional association for the library and information sector. ALIA represents 5000 personal members, 1000 institutional members and over 10 million library and information services users. ALIA's policy position on online content regulation is that 'libraries and information services support the right of all users to unhindered access to information of their choice regardless of format. Access to electronic information resources should not be restricted except as required by law and this basic right should not be eroded in the development of regulatory measures for online information. Users are assisted with the necessary skills and a suitable environment in which to use their chosen information sources and services freely and confidently. Each user's right to privacy and confidentiality is protected with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted. In addition to the many valuable resources available on the internet, some are incorrect, misleading and may be offensive. Libraries and information services proactively promote and facilitate responsible access to quality networked information for all their users, including children and young people. They enable library users to learn to use the internet and electronic information efficiently and effectively.' This position has the full support of the library and information services sector. It was developed following debate and discussion, and has been promulgated widely, including to state and federal parliamentary inquiries, since 1996. The association is aware that there is a push by a group of politicians and supporters of the newly formed Sexual Integrity Alliance for mandatory filtering of public access internet terminals in public libraries. Proponents of mandatory internet filtering are relying heavily on views such as those expressed at the Sexual Integrity Forum at parliament house in Canberra in August 2005, and claims that reliable blocking software is now available, such as those of Dr Mary Anne Layden, a keynote speaker at the forum and promoter of the Internet Sheriff filtering software, and Paul MacRae of Security Principles who promotes 'whole of country' filtering. Australians have a democratic right to access information through the internet in their public library and for this to be unhindered by filtering software. Educating library users in safe and informed internet use and having acceptable use policies in place are responsible strategies. With the growing use of new internet technologies such as Wiki it is inevitable that the amount of legitimate and appropriate information that would be incorrectly blocked through filtering will increase. Despite what proponents say filtering software, in our experience, is not able to filter only inappropriate material. Filters have no place in a policy framework that embraces new technologies and promotes safe and informed use of the internet. It is all very well to say that if legitimate sites are blocked to Tasmanians then staff will seek to get the provider to unblock these sites. That is not easy to do and will become increasingly more complex as new internet technologies are adopted. We are currently undertaking a survey on internet access in public libraries and when the full results are available in January will forward these to you. This survey was previously done in 2002. Preliminary results based on the first 125 responses covering 116 library services operating through 366 sites, not yet including Tasmanian data, indicate:
For your information I have attached both the preliminary survey results (as at 14 December 2005) and the full report of the 2002 survey. Further resources are available on our website. The association supports the federal government's policy approach as implemented through NetAlert, the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Internet industry codes of practice. ALIA contributed to the community consultation on the codes. Derek Whitehead, convenor of ALIA's Online Content and Regulation Committee is a member of the NetAlert board. In May this year NetAlert was a partner in Library and Information Week and the promotion of the National Library Project. The association asks that you reverse your decision announced on 10 December 2005, to use filtering software in public libraries and online access centres. Our surveys and anecdotal evidence show that access to inappropriate material on the internet, especially by children, is not a major issue in public libraries. To restrict access by library users to legitimate sites, as is inevitable through the use of filters, is in our view an over-reaction, the wrong approach and an infringement of users rights. Tasmanians would be better served by your government putting these resources into educating internet users on responsible use, on information use skills, and ensuring acceptable use policies are in place and adhered to. The association would welcome the opportunity to work with you on this critically important issue to reach a policy position that advocates safe and informed internet access for Tasmania's library users.
Yours sincerely,  back
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