The aftermath of mandatory internet filtering and s 313 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth)

Up until 2013, few people, if any, had paid any attention to s 313 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) which authorises carriage services to block internet addresses upon request from law enforcement. Of course, there was a good reason for this"”the use of the section only came to notice in the aftermath of the failure to legislate for a mandatory internet filtering scheme, when existing sources of power for filtering were sought. This article explores a brief history of the mandatory internet filter plan, examines the current semi-voluntary scheme, and looks at ways that s 313 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) is being used to justify blocking access to addresses on the internet.