huridocs-tech NZL: Internet censorship may lead to intrusive Govt laws

Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
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## author     : gnn@grassrootsnews.org
## date       : 13.01.00
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SOURCE: The Christchurch Press newspaper.
Christchurch, New Zealand.
14th January, 2000.

*Internet censorship may lead to intrusive Govt laws.*

Authorities may need more intrusive powers to detect
objectionable material distributed on the Internet, the
Department of Internal Affairs says.

In briefing papers prepared for the incoming Government,
made public under the Official Information Act yesterday,
the department said increasing use of the Internet meant it
was much harder to enforce censorship laws.

"Continuing technological advances are likely to make it
increasingly difficult to maintain the present level of
success (of detection) without increased, and possibly more
intrusive, enforcement powers," the papers said.

Maintaining the balance between protecting the public good
and preserving the freedoms in the Bill of Rights Act was
likely to become an increasingly difficult issue.

The papers said that in the past consumers could rely on
censorship ratings to advise them of the content of
publications and limit access by children to objectionable
material. But digital material, such as computer games,
could contain material that could not be readily classified,
owing to the sheer volume of material that could be
compressed onto a disk and the coding, layering, and
protection of material that computer technology allowed.

Previously access to publications could be largely
controlled, as items could be seized at the border or from
shops.

Now people could easily order books, CDs, and videos
directly from overseas, and download films through the
Internet, bypassing the classification system.

Despite several prosecutions for distribution of
objectionable material on the Internet, particularly
involving child pornography, the area was increasingly
difficult to police.

"While the amount of material obtained in these ways is
modest as yet, if these trends continue, the rating and
classification system will apply to an increasingly small
segment of the market," the department said.




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