Conroy denies knowledge of U.S. approach re Intenet censorship concerns

THE Obama administration has questioned the Rudd government's plan to introduce an internet filter, saying it runs contrary to the US's foreign policy of encouraging an open internet to spread economic growth and global security.
Officials from the State Department have raised the issue with Australian counterparts as the US mounts a diplomatic assault on internet censorship by governments worldwide.
The news is a blow to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, who is defending the plan for internet companies to mandatorily block illegal and abhorrent websites -- for instance, child pornography -- but faces growing opposition. according to Business with The Wallstreet Journal yesterday.

Conroy's retort:
"Well, I've seen those concerns, [but] I haven't had any direct contact with the US State Department," Conroy said on the ABC's Radio National Australia Talks program tonight. "I saw the reports in the morning papers. My department I don't believe has been directly contacted. They maybe are speaking to the Department of Foreign Affairs - but I was unaware until I saw this morning's news reports of any approaches at all at this stage."
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