Who is getting control of the internet?

Issue 

Who is getting control of the internet?

The federal government has announced the composition of the Information Policy Advisory Council (IPAC), the role of which is to provide "authoritative and broadly based" advice to the government on the legal, social and economic implications of new information and communications technologies.

Despite assurances made by the Coalition in its policy statement "Australia Online", there are no representatives on IPAC from the education sector, libraries, the cultural community, health profession, professional computing bodies or internet user groups.

The council is made up of 17 members. Three are from government departments, one from the Australian Consumers Association. The majority are representatives of major commercial interests (such as Microsoft, Telstra, Optus, IBM, News Corp, the Advance Bank and the Cane Growers' Council) or multimedia companies (Imago, Optcom and Sturgess).

Further information can be found on the world wide web: Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc, http://www.efa.org.au/. "Australia Online" is at http://www.liberal.org.au/POLICY/ONLINE/online.htm.

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