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Victoria University Policies and Procedures

POLICY NUMBER: POLICY NAME: DATE APPROVED: RESPONSIBLE OFFICER:

1 PURPOSE

ITi-P2006-47 Internet Filtering Policy 7-09-2006 Director - Information Technology Services.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all University use of the Internet is legal, and complies with University values and policies; and that staff and students have access to web sites and Internet services legitimately needed for their University work. 2 BACKGROUND It is accepted that the internet has become an essential tool in education and research. Conversely it is also acknowledged that some information and sites on the internet condone or promote matters which are illegal in Australia or directly contravene Victoria University values, standards and policies. The online world also includes those who practise antisocial behaviour like creating viruses, distributing spyware, attempting to break into computer networks and sending unsolicited commercial emails. Internet filtering can reduce the risk to the University from these practices. Victoria University subscribes to a Web Content Filtering service. This service categorises Web sites, and the University through ITS then blocks sites with particular categories of content such as pornography and incitement to unlawful behaviour. Filtering can be used as an economic tool to save expense to cost-centre managers; for example a computer lab may be filtered to provide only intranet services. 3 DEFINITIONS 3.1 Internet: an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world. Intranet: a network operating like the Internet but having access restricted to a limited group of authorised users such as employees of a company, or the University’s community. Service/protocol filtering: removing access to a specific service e.g. P2P services, Chat. P2P (or peer-to-peer): describes a network which enables the sharing of content...