Despite fierce opposition, Australia’s Communications Minister, Malcolm Tent, last week successfully saw his bill passed through parliament that will require Australians to have a license to use the Internet.
The minister’s basic argument was this:
You wouldn’t want someone driving on the road without a license. The World Wide Web is now an essential part of the world’s social and economic infrastructure, and, as such, it needs to be protected. Though online criminal activity is rife, the biggest danger to web security is from its regular users—you and I—who unwittingly support criminal activities by setting weak passwords, opening spam emails, and neglecting proper computer maintenance such as scanning for viruses.
With rights come responsibilities. A basic awareness of the proper usage and the dangers of the web is essential for every citizen who wishes to go online. The consequences of using the Web in ignorance are arguably more hazardous to public wellbeing than reckless driving, and we all bear a duty to society to use the web responsibly.
From July 1st next year, anyone in Australia wanting to access the web will need to pass a test that demonstrates basic understanding of the web and its appropriate usage. People won’t be able to sign up with an ISP without quoting a license number, and libraries, internet cafes and other venues that offer free internet will also need to verify user credentials before allowing users online. License holders will need to be 16 or over, and children will not be allowed online except with adult supervision—with stiff fines for parents, teachers and others who fail to monitor their children’s online activity.
To be honest, though I understand the complaints of civil libertarians and others, I don’t think this is such a bad idea.
Admittedly, I’m a bit skeptical about one aspect of the test, which requires people to undergo a psychological examination. (The idea is to weed out internet users prone to becoming trolls etc.)
That seems a bit extreme to me, but otherwise, I think this is a good idea overall, and I hope it will spread to other countries. (Several countries, including the US and UK, are watching this closely to see how it goes.)
What do you guys think? Is this a good thing, and do you hope other countries will take it up?