Hackers Deface Australian Rating Board's Website
Hackers Deface Australian Rating Board's Website
March 27, 2009
The website of the Australian Classification Board has been defaced by hackers, according to GameSpot.
The board provides content ratings for video games, movies and literature. It's unclear, however whether the attack was in response to the current debate over an R18+ rating for games Down Under or a controversial Internet filtering plan under consideration by the Australian government.
The message left by the hacker(s) reads:
This site contains information about the boards that have the right to CONTROL YOUR FREEDOMZ. The Classification Board has the right to not just classify content (the name is an ELABORATE TRICK), but also the right to DECIDE WHAT IS AND ISNT APPROPRIATE and BAN CONTENT FROM THE PUBLIC.
The site has been taken offline, presumably for cleanup.
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Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
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Comments
Yeah because if there's one thing that will help the perception of gamers and media consumers in general as mature and rational people, it's a hackjob by a childish dickhead
Thanks you tool
When ratings boards treat us like children, what do you expect to happen? Of course we'll start to act like children.
...and the spiral continues it's decent.
@Bennett Beeny
OMG I adore your handle - big fan of the 'America' story-arc right here :)
...because it was gamers that did this.
> It's unclear, however whether the attack was in response to the current debate over an R18+ rating for games Down Under or a controversial Internet filtering plan under consideration by the Australian government.
...oh.
/b
Yeah this is not helpful. Why don't we just start sending death threats to people who opose us? Oh wait, we have already done that. Keep it up people. We are never screwed enough.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
You know what they say: "It's never enough until people start open riots in the streets!"
"HEY! LISTEN!"
Well it dose get the word out thus why such things are done.
But a pamphlet campaign thats hows what M15 games would be 18 and what M15 games that would be 15 would be better press out 5-20K worth ofpamphlets and hand them out around the AG's office/area.
Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
The only 'word' it gets out is that gamers really ARE puerile immature dickheads.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Not really becuse it makes the local news, whitch can reach more commen people with the line of thought that the whole M15 only thing dose not work.
Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
Yes, it makes the news. Get what they're going to say. You seriously think the news outlets are going to say that this was an act of people looking for a serious, mature discussion? Or do you think it's going to say that the ones encouraging this are nutjobs?
This doing more harm than good, sadly.
It dosent matter if the messenger is a nut job the message was brought out.
Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
Yeah, the message that gamers are immature dicks who commit cyberterrorism to get their way.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Because the intarnetz is srs business amirite!?
It is if you're a mass media news comapny. Like the ones that will be reporting what some cyberterrorist illegally did to a government website.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
-grabs Laughing Man program-
Dude, I haven't had to use this in SO long. But, cyberterrorism is cyberterrorism! ^^
"HEY! LISTEN!"
The Third Man is the way to go if you want to crash a network! ;-)
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Psh. Who wants to crash a website when you can replace all the pictures with Laughing Man faces? Especially when it's a Photobucket page. :3
"HEY! LISTEN!"
"It dosent matter if the messenger is a nut job the message was brought out."
But would the message be seen as credible? Ah, when in doubt, people look at the messenger's reputation. Reputation and credibility go hand in hand, soooo.... no one is going to listen to a nut job.
GameSnooper
"It's unclear, however whether the attack was in response to the current debate over an R18+ rating for games Down Under or a controversial Internet filtering plan under consideration by the Australian government."
No, Luke, I AM the Walrus
It is important to note that we are talking about MA15+ games,
the M15+ was changed to just an M rating with no number attached. The M rating is a blue lable that is more like the T rating in America.
It is the MA15+ rating that is a red lable that also has the words "RESTRICTED" on it, even though it is always up to the parent's permission for their child to play it when it says on the back of the cover "Those under the age of 15 MUST be acconpanied by a parent or adult guardian."
So yeah, it is important to get our information right or else we would look as stupid as JT or the Eagle Forum when they hopelessly get their facts wrong.
But yeah, the OFLC rating in Australia (while they also apply for movies and DVDs) are harder to understand than the ESRB in America where I can really understand them easily with the E, E10+, T, M17+ and the (missing in action) AO18+ rating that can't be used because retailers won't carry an AO rated game in the US.
Oddly enought what they wrote is the complete truth.
But it dosen't change the fact that this was more harmful then helpful for that 18+ rating the Australians wants.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
The hacker didn't need to act so childish about it, he/she could have done something more creative and used it a bit wiser than simply making silly spellings for internet lingo.
While what they had written was correct, I don't think this would go down well if the site was hacked.
No one deserves their site to be hacked, because that sends out a negtive message about us computer users.
So please, don't try to put any blame on the OFLC, they have been doing all they can to balance out the ability to inform parents with the freedoms of adults to chose what they want to play.
Like think about it, 4 years ago the OFLC was getting allot of criticism, and in the past few years they have allowed more adult games in that stretch the MA15+ all because of one man who will never listen.
And it was the OFLC who originally asked for the R18+ rating to be introduced for videogames.
So without them, we would not have had a chance to start up this debate in the first place.
So get real people, don't attack the OFLC, start making a real point and protest against Mr Atkinson, the only guy who is holding back the R18+ rating for Videogames.
Or better yet, try to write to the Vic and ACT Attorney Generals about trying to support the R18+ rating for Videogames in State Parliment instead of federal, because if laws can't be passed federally then they might be able to be passed with each State just like in the Abortion and Stem Cell research debates.
More information less lulz....
Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
Yes, they're right, but this was not necessary.
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Anger is a great way of inciting change.
What he was saying was completely relevant and utterly true. Government boards that restrict or censor Free Speech get absolutly no sympothy from me. They shouldn't even exist.
"No law means no law" - Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on the First Amendment
Nice, but they could have at least tried to do a little more damage than that. Nobody but gamers and the Rating Board is going to care.
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Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it! -Glenn Beck
Meh. The Austrailian government is dogshit in my book- no society that can call itself "free" would have content filters on the internet. I can care less that their websites get hacked.
The method is controversial, but, when you don´t have any power of voice, what other way do you have?
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
As much as I applaud the effort, I imagien Atkinson, the being responsible for the current situation, will turn this around to cement his position.
An idea just struck me.
What if instead of hacking the site we were to make a praody site, with the same message (spelt correctly of course), only way more elaborate. Photoshopped logos, similar layouts and everything. The kind of stuff you'd see from one of GTA's parody websites, or perhaps MAD. That might raise some attention.
Edit: Oh and will someone fill me in on their internet filters?
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Australia's government, or parts thereof seem to think that censoring the internet is practical and a good idea. As such they're makes some attempt in that direction. Here's a few links to give you an idea:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/26/german_police_raid_wikileaks/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/19/australia_list_leaked/
http://www.smh.com.au/news/home/technology/banned-hyperlinks-could-cost-you-11000-a-day/2009/03/17/1237054787635.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/03/19/1237054961100.html
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1888011,00.html
The bottom line is that while they aren't there yet, they're trying and already showing exactly how their blacklist might balloon to cover anything they don't like.
-Gray17
Basically they're taking a page out of China's playbook and trying to censor the "harmful" sections of the internet. "Harmful" will be decided by the Party, Comrade, so have no fear! You'll never see any of those horrible anti-government sites ever again! Or those nasty cooking blogs either!
It's even more ironic given the current state of China-linked crap surrounding our Government and the Defence Department in particular. The only way it could be topped off would be if the AFP arrested our Prime Minister on Treason and Spying for China charges when he gets back from his n-th trip around the world.
I am disappointed that the Austrailian people haven't started marching in the streets over this. Internet censorship in a "free" society is unheard of. Where's the outrage?
Probably because most people see it as 'only' the internet. Usually they are the same sort of people who go out of their way to find offensive content on it and then complain that it's there...
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
That is just scary, and so completely wrong on so many different levels. Perhaps we can ask them to block Atkinson's page, since apparently they block everything at random. Perhaps I'll be browsing wikileaks later to see their block lists.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Correct punctuation and spelling would have been nice.
Andrew Eisen
And it's about damn time too. Maybe this will be a wake up call for the Australian ratings board.
More like this is just the sort of ammunition they need to further entrench their position.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Yes, because nothing says, "We need to have a serious discussion." like defacing someone else's property.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
Because the internet is serious fucking business. Come on. Any rational person will realise that this is just a dumb skiddie with a keylogger fucking with the site.
Your logic has a major, and I mean MAJOR hole, consensus on Atkinson (and for that, News media) is that they are anything BUT rational in 99% of cases.
Are you seriously this naive?
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Um...This is serious business. What this person/s did is illegal in most every country that has internet access. This person could be charged with a Felony in the US just for defacing that website. Australia probably has similar laws in place.
Just because you don't like one law, does not give you the right to break other laws in retaliation.
People who want a serious discussion on the issue of R18 ratings and unfiltered internet do not need people like this on their side. To those who are in favor of filtered internet and not introducing the R18 rating, this just makes us look like nothing but cyberterrorists. Not a good image to have.
This behavior does nothing to support its cause but does everything to destroy it.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
Liike I said we should make a parody version of Australia's rating website.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
I hate to say it, but I agree with you. Damn skiddies...probably hacked a 50 account on Halo 3, too...
"HEY! LISTEN!"
Yes, I suppose the thought that the media and people in power would also see this as a juvenile attack by 'damn skiddies' and use it to dismiss actual grown-up peoples concerns and strengthen their position of oppostition never crossed your mind, did it skiddie.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Couple of points I'd like to say.
1. Re M15+/R18+ rating: The OFLC does nothing but look at games then apply a rating based on what they have available to them. They don't really have a role in the whole ratings issue, if the attorney generals agree for an R18 category, then the OFLC would just use that for games that don't match it's M15+ rating.
2. The hacking: Their message would be in relation to our possible pending bullshit censorship plan for the internet. Retarded thing to do, but at least it'll get people talking about the issue. Most of our news is fairly intelligent, it's only the 'issues' shows like today tonight that put sensationalist spin on it so there won't be much of a media bias towards the government.
3. Censorship: As it stands the policy won't get through, because of party factionalism labour (current sitting party) doesn't have a majority, they need some independants to push it through. In fact I think by my count they need all, so as long as one of them votes with the liberal party against it the law to allow the cencorship would fail.
For all those decrying it as pointless, reinforcing stereotypes etc...
You're right, it is.
I bet the Boston Tea Party reinforced some stereotypes as well? Anarchy and rebellion (ie. lack of respect for the law) will come when your government no longer pays you respect. That is what we have arrived at here in Australia.
I don't agree the ratings board should have been hacked, but I understand that people are frustrated with our government telling us how to live (not just giving us law, but legislating on many issues that are none of their business). If you keep poking a sleeping bear, eventually it'll wake up and it might just do something outlandish in return. The politicians are provoking this response, and they're going to get it.
If you treat the general populace like a bunch of idiots, they'll act as such. If you treat them like a gang of violent criminals, they'll act as such.
If you treat them as respectable citizens doing the best they can, they'll generally act as such. How's about using some of those apparently excess tax dollars you're gonna spend policing the internet, and starting a marketing campaign teaching citizens to choose for themselves?
I will not buy securom games. http://www.wolvenmoon.com/sharedfiles/message1.jpg and http://www.wolvenmoon.com/sharedfiles/message2.jpg
[mods delete this. I can't find the delete button]
This guy has just destroyed any credibility us Aussie gamers have... Good Ol' Atkinson will use this against us, without a shadow of a doubt.
But it does tell the truth, though...
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What seest thou else in the dark backward and abysm of time?