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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Manager Christopher Wilson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Mobile 0419 23 9375 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed John Hill Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $54 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Why shouldn’t the Internet be censored? Just recently, the NSW Attorney General, Jeffrey Shaw, has announced the intention to draft legislation that will make it an offence to transmit or receive material unsuitable for minors over the Internet. Predictably there has been a howl of outrage from the civil libertarians who seem to argue that any censor­ship, on any media, is an attack on free speech. They also argue that censorship of the Internet is technically unworkable. Well, I’m not so sure about either of those arguments. On the subject of free speech, it always seems to me that the people making the loudest noises are often defending the availability of pornography. In other words, their arguments are tendentious – they either want pornography for themselves or they want to make money by selling it. While most pornography probably is harmless, do we really want it even more widely available? There is also the argument that it is up to the parents to see that their children are safeguarded from pornography and that adults should be able to make their own choice at all times. Both of these latter points look quite reasonable but they are made by people who apparently don’t have much experience with children. While it may be relatively easy for parents to prevent their children from seeing particular videos at home, it is not nearly as easy if undesirable material is available on the Inter­net. How many parents are able to watch what their children may access at any time via their computers? Remember too that more and more schools have access to the Internet both in the classroom and in the libraries. Can we have constant vigilance in this regard? It’s impossible. On the other hand, it would be entirely workable for a government authority to maintain a constant watch on what was available on the Internet. If you and I can use a “web browser” to search for particular material on the Internet, then so can a government authority. They could do it 24 hours a day. Once they detected undesirable material, they could pounce. To my mind, the real question concerning the need for censorship on the Internet is whether we need any more legisla­tion. If pornography on the Internet does not involve paedophilia or serious violence then probably little should be done about it. After all, children will be exposed to this material sooner or later as part of growing up. On the other hand, if material on the Internet does involve serious violence or paedophilia, then surely existing legislation is adequate to stop it – it merely needs to be enforced. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip