Australian Communications and Media Authority
Queen Victoria Building NSW 1230
Tel: 02 9334 7700
Fax: 02 9334 7799
Free call: 1800 22 6667
Website: www.acma.gov.au/acmainter

Related archived material

• Reports on the online content co-regulatory scheme

Illegal and offensive online content is regulated within the Online Content Scheme under Schedule 5 to the Broadcasting Services 1992 (BSA). The scheme includes a complaints-based mechanism, administered by the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA).

The online content scheme provides that any person may complain to the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) if they believe Australians can access prohibited or potentially prohibited online content using an Internet carriage service or that such material is being hosted in Australia by an Internet content host. The prohibited classification categories for Australian-hosted content are Refused Classification (RC), X, and material rated R that is not protected by adult verification procedures. For overseas-hosted content the prohibited categories are RC and X.

Complaints must be made in writing and can be lodged using the online complaints form available at the ACMA's website.

Where content is hosted in Australia and is found by ACMA to be prohibited, ACMA has the authority to direct the Internet content host to remove the content from their service. Where content is not hosted in Australia and is prohibited, ACMA will notify the content to the suppliers of approved filters, so that access to the content using such filters is blocked. The National Filter Scheme provides Australians access to free PC-based internet content filters. Information on filters is available at http://www.netalert.gov.au/filters.html.

In addition, regardless of where the content is hosted, if ACMA considers the content to be of a sufficiently serious nature to warrant referral to a law enforcement agency it must notify the content to an Australian police force.

The Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Act 2007 which commenced in January 2008 extends the requirements under the BSA through the installation of a new Schedule 7. The aim of Schedule 7 is to protect consumers from inappropriate or harmful material on emerging content services such as 3G mobile phones and subscription-based internet portals. This includes age-restricted access to MA15+ content where it is provided on a commercial basis.

• Document ID: 8681 |
• Last modified: 12 May 2008, 11:50am