QP Internet Access: Optus is an overzealous Big Brother

[Paddy55]

Haven't come across a thread on this but Optus's content filtering in QPs is overzealous and amateurish and is ticking me off!

(Enough to connect via my Telstra hot spot)

Sitting in the QP looking at stories on Huffington Post (Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post). Liberal, yes, hotbed of coughography... don't think so.

Couple of stories I tried to access, including one on TomKat divorce were blocked because of the content.

Katie Holmes Used Disposable Phones To Orchestrate Divorce

I've sent appropriate feedback, but really?

Optus & Qantas: I'm an adult, I am not accessing any form of nudity, foul language or violence... what's the problem? :evil::evil::evil:


(just thought i'd clarify: it's not accessing TomKat story that's ticked me off, it's the general Amateur Big Brother attitude)

 

[Ewing]

I've never noticed. The first thing I do when I connect to any "unknown" network including unencrypted wifi is establish an encrypted VPN connection elsewhere.

That has a side effect of bypassing any filtering that may be in place

 

[MrJetset]

It's been discussed on Flyertalk. Gay news websites were blocked, but I managed to get that rectified by filling out the feedback form.

That said, my corporate Gmail doesn't work through a browser at the SYD DOM J Lounge, but does in MEL. Go figure.

 

[Berlin]

It's been discussed on Flyertalk. Gay news websites were blocked, but I managed to get that rectified by filling out the feedback form.

You weren't the only one who complained about this issue, I did on several occasion. Even entirely non coughographic sites like gaycities had been blocked which infuriated me every single time. I also believe that most of them are now accessible again but it shows what kind of thinking must prevail over there at Optus :evil:

 

[reductionist]

They've blocked Hacker News (tech news web site). This one really annoys me.

Hacker News

 

[MrJetset]

I think you'll find many of these subscription based filters have keywords so 'GayNewsNetwork' or 'GayCities' would be blocked, but starobserver.com.au and queerty.com would not.

 

[lovestotravel]

It's a free service.............

 

[Berlin]

It's a free service.............

Which is not an excuse to impose an intolerant and discriminating world view upon your customers in my eyes.

 

[TonyHancock]

I believe that torrent sites are blocked and I have had a few problems with updating podcasts and apps through iTunes.

 

[Berlin]

I think you'll find many of these subscription based filters have keywords so 'GayNewsNetwork' or 'GayCities' would be blocked, but starobserver.com.au and queerty.com would not.

Makes me furious! Because being gay is such a filthy dirty thing, isn't it! :evil:

 

[lovestotravel]

Which is not an excuse to impose an intolerant and discriminating world view upon your customers in my eyes.

You don't have to use it
Far from discriminating

 

[drewbles]

You don't have to use it
Far from discriminating

They could just block access to every heterosexual site as well then...

I tried to use it a few weeks ago to view something on theage.com.au which had 'gay' in the URL. It was blocked. I filled in the form, 25 minutes later they responded it was unblocked.

Their web filter is over-zealous. It's basing it on a known list of 'objectional' material *and* filtering based on URL words.

The problem is that net filtering software as a general rule defines different levels of objectionable material as well as different categories. They obviously have it set to paranoid mode, which is overkill.

I tried to browse a very specific search engine which was not coughographic or adult oriented nor was it anything to do with a torrent, and it was blocked.

Then i've found some sites that should be blocked, and aren't. This is the problem with filters (and why the government needs to wake up and realise it isn't 'one size fits all' and there's no substitution for parental supervision on the internet of their children, but I digress...).

 

[simongr]

I've never noticed. The first thing I do when I connect to any "unknown" network including unencrypted wifi is establish an encrypted VPN connection elsewhere.

That has a side effect of bypassing any filtering that may be in place

Problem is that for me I am then subject to the corporate web filters...

 

[lovestotravel]

Problem is that for me I am then subject to the corporate web filters...

Indeed, and I prefer my web browsing to not be subject to my corporate web filter or be associated with me at all times

 

[Ewing]

Problem is that for me I am then subject to the corporate web filters...

The VPN I connect to isn't subject to any filters, nor does it log my web requests.

I know, because I setup the infrastructure than runs it

 

[lovestotravel]

A more serious post from me

Gay news websites should not be blocked, of course not!

At least there is a from to submit to get the restrictions eased a little, and it seems it gets a very fast response.

I suggest submitting as many requests as needed to get the PG rated sites allowed

 

[pauly7]

I believe that torrent sites are blocked and I have had a few problems with updating podcasts and apps through iTunes.

Really? I've had no problems doing the same here...

 

[sutho58]

The VPN I connect to isn't subject to any filters, nor does it log my web requests.

I know, because I setup the infrastructure than runs it

can you come and set up ours then?? our company is so over the top, even "google" is banned...

 

[simongr]

I believe that torrent sites are blocked and I have had a few problems with updating podcasts and apps through iTunes.

Really? I've had no problems doing the same here...

Certainly www.inserttorrentsitenamehere.me is blocked

 

[Berlin]

our company is so over the top, even "google" is banned...

And I thought my company was bad but at least we can access Google. For now- don't tell them, might get them into ideas...