Australia abandons mandatory Internet filter plan

CANBERRA (AP) - The Australian government has abandoned its 5-year-old pledge to mandate a filter blocking child pornography and other objectionable Internet content.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio on Friday that instead of imposing a compulsory filter, Internet service providers have agreed to block a list of 1,400 websites.

Critics had said the proposed legislated filter would have put Australia in the same censorship league as China.

Anti-censorship campaigner Geordie Guy welcomed the government reversal. He said the new agreement will have little impact on the availability of child abuse material which is not traded on the open Web.