News Release
NR 4/1997
For immediate release
UNESCO INVITES ABA TO CARRY OUT INTERNET RESEARCH
The Australian Broadcasting Authority has been invited by UNESCO (the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to conduct a
pilot study on The Internet and International Regulatory Issues.
_The ABA is delighted to accept this invitation from UNESCO,_ said Mr Tim
O_Keefe, ABA Board Member. _The ABA has consistently taken the view that
international cooperation is one of the best ways to tackle the implications
of the global phenomenon that is the Internet._
Mr O_Keefe made the announcement during the 19th Annual Pacific
Telecommunications Conference in Hawaii.
The pilot study will:
. identify some of the main features of the on-line environment,
particularly as they relate to content of on-line services;
. discuss some recent technical developments such as the Platform for
Content Selection (PICS) and the emergence of labelling schemes;
. assess recent developments in Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and
Australia; and
. consider areas which might benefit from international cooperation.
The pilot study, due to be completed in March this year, will also consider
the cost and feasibility of a larger comparative study which could be
conducted by the ABA later in 1997.
For further information please contact Donald Robertson, ABA Manager Media
and PR on (02) 9334 7980
21 January 1997 (Backgrounder follows - one page)
BACKGROUND
The dynamic new communications medium known as the Internet has emerged at
an astounding pace in recent years. The Internet and other on-line services
offer a revolutionary means by which individuals and organisations can
communicate, entertain, educate and inform.
The global network of computers enables the exchange of text, sound, video
and images between millions of individuals from all around the globe in a
manner not possible via traditional media.
However, these new services also challenge traditional models for regulation
of the media. There is no central control or ownership of the Internet and
the functions performed by the participants in the on-line environment are
not as fixed as in existing media publications and broadcasting models. Most
significantly, a person from anywhere around the globe can create content
and make it available on-line.
Along with the growth of these services, and a realisation of the benefits
which they can provide for enhanced communication, entertainment and
educational services, concerns have been raised around the world about the
content of some of these services. The nature of these concerns often
reflect the different cultural, religious and political values of the
international community.
The ABA conducted an investigation into the content of on-line services at
the request of the Minister for Communications and the Arts. The ABA_s
report was presented to the Minister in July 1996 and has since been widely
acclaimed both in Australia and around the world. It is considered one of
the leading studies on the Internet and regulatory issues (full text is
available at http://www.dca.gov.au/aba/olcont.htm).
The ABA has an excellent reputation for producing independent, high quality
research and advises the Federal government on issues of public policy in
the broadcasting and communications area.
The ABA also has formal links with a number of international regulatory
bodies and on-line industry associations. It participates in a number of
international forums on Internet regulation and associated issues.
(end)