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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

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$84 Million Government Porn Filter Cracked by Teen

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A 16-year-old Australian teen, Tom Wood, found a work-around on the Australian government's porn filter that was released last Tuesday:

His technique ensures the software's toolbar icon is not deleted, leaving parents under the impression the filter is still working. A former cyber bullying victim, Tom feared a computer-savvy child could work out the bypass and put it on the Internet for others to use.

Tom, who spoke to Communications Minister Helen Coonan about cyber safety during a forum in May, said the Federal Government should have developed a better Australian made filter.

"It's a horrible waste of money," he said.

"They could get a much better filter for a few million dollars made here rather than paying overseas companies for an ineffective one."

$84-million?!?! The Australian government just seems silly for spending so much money on this. The last time I was in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory at a hearing, the politicians were all yelling over each other, another man was screaming "order" swinging his gravel around and a midget came out serving tea. Then I went outside, curled up into a ball and rolled off the roof.

The capital is built into a the side of a hill, making it easy to do that rolling part.

Photo by Delgoff via Flickr

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