The Guardian: Australians may have to say goodbye to private networks

And all this in an ineffective effort to favour large US media conglomerates. Article by Monica Tan for The Guardian Virtual private networks (VPNs) could be blocked under new copyright legislation being considered by the Senate, according to Australian consumer advocacy group Choice. VPNs are used by hundreds of thousands of Australians to access overseas content online.  But they could be blocked by the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, which was introduced to parliament last month.

And all this in an ineffective effort to favour large US media conglomerates.

Article by Monica Tan for The Guardian

Virtual private networks (VPNs) could be blocked under new copyright legislation being considered by the Senate, according to Australian consumer advocacy group Choice.

VPNs are used by hundreds of thousands of Australians to access overseas content online. 

But they could be blocked by the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, which was introduced to parliament last month.

If it is passed, copyright owners would be able to apply for a federal court order requiring internet service providers to block overseas sites whose primary purpose is infringing copyright or facilitating the infringement of copyright.

While the bill is designed to target BitTorrent sites, such as the Pirate Bay, there are concerns other online services such as VPNs and digital storage lockers could fall victim. 

The campaigns manager for Choice, Erin Turner, says at least 684,000 Australian households currently employ VPNs to bypass geoblocks and access overseas content at globally competitive prices.

- Read more at The Guardian