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© Committee of Australian University Directors of I.T., 1996, 1997
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This compound Appendix provides access to the key information in the 30 June 1996 Report of the Australian Broadcasting Authority. It is separated into the following segments:
The Report of the Australian Broadcasting Authority's 'Investigation into the Content of On-Line Services' is a 200-page / 500K document which combines background information, argument and recommendations. The flavour can be best gained by reading the Executive Summary (which is to be found in the third quarter of the main web-page). The Report is available at http://www.dca.gov.au/aba/olsrprt.htm.
Unfortunately, the 39 recommendations are scattered throughout the report (at pp. 93, 100, 104, 117, 121, 134, 149, 155, 158, 162, 173, 176, 178, 190), and there is also a detailed set of 'matters which might be included in Codes of Practice' on pp.122-130. Moreover, the ABA's considered 'views' appear in even more locations.
The Recommendations are accordingly reproduced in Appendix 1B.
In addition, Appendix 1C reproduces the segment of the Report that identifies the matters that need to be dealt with in a Code.
1. The ABA convene an On-Line Labelling Task Force with all relevant parties, including the OFLC and the industry, to design a purpose-built scheme for labelling on-line content.
2. The scheme utilise the set of standards incorporated in the Platform for Internet Content Selection [PICS] or any other superior standards that might be developed.
3. Content providers be encouraged to provide warnings about the nature of material, particularly that which is Unsuitable for minors.
4. With the objective of maximising Australian labelling consistency with overseas rating schemes, the ABA and the OFLC establish relationships with relevant international bodies.
5. The proposal for a Refused Access List to facilitate the comprehensive blocking of Objectionable material should not proceed.
6. The ABA convenes an On-Line Technical Task Force comprising industry experts and appropriate government department representatives to investigate further the methods that may be utilised by the industry for dealing with such material.
7. The Task Force terms of reference should include identification of steps which can practically be taken to limit the accessibility of Objectionable material to users.
8. The establishment of an e-mail hot-line along the lines of that recommended by the PJC-NCA report entitled 'Organised Criminal Paedophile Activity' is supported in principle.
9. Service providers include in codes of practice procedures that aim to verify that prospective account-holders are over the age of 18.
10. Codes of practice make appropriate exemptions for educational institutions.
11. The development of codes of practice for the on-line community is appropriate and should be encouraged.
12. A government agency have a registration and monitoring role in relation to codes of practice for service providers.
13. The question whether there should be codes of practice for participants in the on-line environment other than service providers warrants further examination.
14. Members of the on-line services community be encouraged to develop associations which represent their interests.
15. These associations liaise with and advise government on on-line issues generally and assist in any national co-ordinated educational strategy.
16. Associations representing the various participants in the on-line services environment be encouraged to form a fully representative coalition or council which would provide an effective consultative framework for the whole on-line services community in Australia.
17. A substantially self-regulatory regime for on-line services providers in Australia be developed which:
18. The ABA not register a code unless that code clearly details the conduct required which could constitute a defence to an offence of the kind proposed by the Censorship Ministers' model offence provisions.
19. A complaints handling regime be developed specifically for on-line services.
20. In the first instance complaints be made to service providers to be dealt with in accordance with procedures laid down in codes of practice.
21. In relation to unresolved complaints the ABA perform an independent appeals function, as part of its responsibility to monitor the effectiveness of codes of practice.
22. Up-to-date information about filter software products, their features, availability, and use be part of any community education campaign.
23. Service providers be encouraged to provide optional filter software as part of their service.
24. Service providers, under codes of practice, provide subscribers with up-to-date information about available software products to assist parents and others to make choices about access to material on-line.
25. The On-Line Labelling Task Force investigate means of introducing PICS together with an Australian labelling scheme, for managing on-line access by Australian children.
26. Australian representatives be supported and funded by government or industry to attend meetings of the Internet Engineering Task Force in order to participate in the PICS standards setting process.
27. Information on developments with content labelling and classification be included in the community education campaign, recommended in Chapter 10.
28. The development of closed networks as part of a potential accreditation system for family services or for educational services be monitored by the ABA.
29. The ABA and the OFLC undertake further research to monitor the introduction of on-line technologies into Australian homes, in order to assist in determining the information requirements of parents with regard to these services.
30. An educational strategy be developed to provide information about on-line services. The strategy should target parents and guardians. It could also provide useful information for educators and others who are responsible for children's use of on-line services in settings such as schools and libraries.
31. The information be provided by a number of means, including schools' and parents' networks, point of sale for computer hardware (computers, modems, etc.) and software, and in relevant on-line locations. This would include the ABA Web page and home pages of 'supporting' on-line service providers.
32. The ABA co-ordinate a community education campaign together with relevant industrty, consumer and government agencies.
33. A co-ordinated approach should be developed at the State and Federal level to provide practical information to schools administration and parents about the implementation of electronic networks in schools. Information should cover acceptable use policies for on-line services, the application of existing laws on-line, and options for managing student access in on-line services.
34. The ABA establish formal links with the educational sector to help ensure the sector is informed about any developments in the regulation of on-line services, such as codes of practice, which may impact on policies and practices concerning control of student access to such services.
35. In the development of specialist educational networks priority should be given to the provision of access control mechanisms which will allow schools to establish the level and type of arrangements which meet the needs of their school community.
36. Professional development strategies should be developed to give teachers technical competence to guide students in their use of on-line services in all curriculum areas.
37. Industry codes of practice should have community education as a key objective.
38. The ABA liaise with the Information Policy Task Force, industry bodies and with other relevant government agencies to further explore ways and means whereby an appropriate stimulus might be given to develop Australian content on-line.
39. Suggestions advanced in submissions to this investigation, such as the use of tax incentives, export credits and other forms of assistance for the on-line industry in Australia, be further explored by the ABA, the IPTF, industry bodies, and other government agencies.
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Created: 26 October 1996, Last Amended: 3 April 1997