Great Wall of Australia: Industry cops sanitized Internet

"Parents need to take more responsibility for what their children view.

"There is no proper classification process for this kind of content blocking. The technology is not up to it, whether it is linguistic-based or Web site-based."

The opt-out plan requires all ISPs to filter "objectionable material" from Internet traffic according to a blacklist defined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Industry professionals and privacy groups rebutted the scheme, claiming it is technically impossible and economically infeasible to implement, police and maintain ISP-level content filtering.

The funds will be allocated over four years, and will precede a trial of content filtering technology by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).