Conroy admits filter can be bypassed

Communications minister Stephen Conroy, who is leading the Government’s introduction of a mandatory filtering scheme, has admitted the filter itself is easy to bypass.

Additionally, Conroy has said the Government will not force internet service providers to stop customers who will use software to break through the filter.

In an official statement released yesterday, Conroy said he had attended a demonstration of the filter last year, and was also shown how users could get around the filter by using VPN technology.

“ISPs will not be required to block circumvention attempts by their customers or end users,” he said yesterday, also admitting those attempts could be relatively easy to undertake.