Now, I've never been a politically active person. If I could define myself politically, I would say I'm libertarian.

People have a right to freedom of speech and freedom of choice. What you do in the privacy of your home, as long as it's not negatively affecting another person, is your own business.

I am starting to write letters in opposition to Conroy's mandatory Internet filter to all elected Australian Federal representatives. 

Like many other bloggers, I have chosen to also express my opposition online. What follows is the basic outline of what I am writing (by hand!) to Australian politicians:

I am a single, childless, 27 year-old female atheist. I was raised in a middle-class family, received a private-school education, have been a heavy Internet user since I was 13, and have worked in IT for my entire career.

I have never contacted an elected representative on any policy issue - until now. I am strongly opposed to the Labor government's proposed mandatory Internet filter.

Although the initiative is intended as a tool to protect children, there is a larger issue at stake - that of free speech. Filtering will be compulsory in all homes, even where there are no children. What has not been been made clear is how many sites will be filtered, why the sites are considered objectionable, and no way to determine which sites and filtered or why. This could potentially lead to abuse by any sitting government in order to filter anti-government sentiments. This is counter-intuitive to a democratic society, and in direct violation of Article 19 of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As an IT professional, I find the existing filter trials have not adequately addressed all technical issues, yet these trials have revealed the inherent flaws in the proposed system. Any determined or technically-minded individual will be able to circumvent the filter. Additionally, the filter will incorrectly block numerous sites and be unable to block every site with objectionable content.

I would like to propose an alternative plan:

• provide the Australian Federal Police with more resources to investigate and bring down child-pornography rings
• provide funding for digital literacy programs aimed at both parents and children
• introduce an opt-in, filtering system that can be customised by parents, libraries and schools;

Again, I urge you to oppose the proposed mandatory Internet filter. Instead, focus on feasible solutions that will protect children, protect free speech, and protect the democratic Australian society that we enjoy today and deserve in the future.