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Source: ONE News -
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A new internet filter that could affect every computer in the country is about to be launched by the government.
The filter contains a blacklist of websites aimed at reducing child pornography. However some are worried the censorship could get out of control.
Selina McIntee has two internet-savvy kids and says she does not need the government's help to make sure they do not stumble across the wrong thing online.
"I don't like the idea of someone telling me what my family can and can't do on the computer," she says.
But soon McIntee may not have a choice as a government-run internet filter is being phased in over the next few weeks.
The 'blacklist' of websites will be controlled by the Department of Internal Affairs and it has already got its critics.
Thomas Beaglet from Tech Liberty NZ says it is giving the government a tool which people may not want them to have and that future governments may abuse.
And internet commentator David Farrar says in reality the filter will not block the worst of the worst.
In Australia a compulsory filtering system has caused a row after the list of blocked websites was leaked online. Whistleblower website Wikileaks has revealed that the list included online poker sites, euthanasia sites, YouTube links and even the website of a Queensland dentist.
Opponents in New Zealand are worried that with New Zealand's blacklist also kept secret that the same thing could happen.
However, the government says New Zealand's filter is different.
"Ours is a voluntary sign up process, ours has a narrow scope in comparison to the Australian model which has a far broader one," says Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy.
Opponents however, say it will still go New Zealand wide.
"Over time more and more internet providers will feel pressured to go into the scheme and eventually it will become defacto compulsory," says Farrar.
