Regulating the information society: Initial ISP reactions to Australian Internet content legislation

The Internet is receiving considerable attention on a global scale. Some countries are examining the regulation of this technology, and Australia is one of the first to implement legislation to restrict access to offensive or illegal material at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) source. Given the debate surrounding both the efficacy of online regulation in general and this legislation in particular, some objective analysis of initial ISP reactions is of benefit to researchers, practitioners and legislators alike. This paper details the first stage of a longitudinal study, which surveys a targeted selection of Australian ISPs to determine the initial effects of and attitudes toward the legislation. The results suggest dissatisfaction with the legislation on the part of ISPs, and adverse effects on the online industry. Concerns are raised that the legislation will not be effective. The study raises a number of interesting issues that merit further research.