Australia to apply "ratings system" to Internet sites

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is poised to enforce new rules that are meant to protect children from online content. The "Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Act of 2007" is scheduled to take effect on January 20, 2008. Under this law, anyone in Australia who publishes commercial content online or for mobile phones will be required to make sure that adult-oriented content is not seen by minors. To do this, the Internet publications must be classified in categories: X18+ for sexually explicit content (must be 18 or older to access); R18+ for content that is not sexually-explicit, but still restricted; MA15+ for "mature audiences" ages 15 and up; and unrestricted content.

At least two problems are expected with this system: 1) Adults will have to give up privacy to be in compliance, since Internet users will prove their age by supplying their full names and either a credit card or digital signature approved for online use; and 2) Australia cannot enforce the rules in other countries, of course.