Hackers deface Aussie Classification Web site

Aussie Classification Board Web site hacked and front-page message replaced with anti-censorship message.

The Australian Classification Board Web site, which rates and reports on film, literature, and video game content, was hacked and defaced overnight.

The Web site, which is publicly accessible and includes classification policy information, a user-searchable database of recently rated content, and an archive of previous entries, had one of its front-page welcome messages replaced by anti-censorship protestors.

"This site contains information about the boards that have the right to CONTROL YOUR FREEDOMZ," the message read.

"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 [sic]."

The hackers left no clear indication which aspect of the Classification Board they were so incensed about to provoke the attack, but it appears to have occurred shortly after last night's ABC Q&A programme that featured Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy discussing proposed mandatory Internet filtering.

A Classification Board spokesperson told GameSpot AU they were "still investigating" who was responsible for the act, but declined to comment on whether or not the matter had been referred to the Australian federal police.

The Classification Board Web site was temporarily taken offline and remained down at the time of print.

For more information on Australian games classification, check out our Censory Overload feature.

UPDATE: A spokeswoman from the Attorney-General's department has since confirmed the removal of the Classification Board's Web site, telling GameSpot AU, "The classification Board's Web site was hacked into last night. The site has been taken down while the incident is being investigated and a report will be given to the Minister of Home Affairs. No other government or agency Web site appear to be affected."

78 Comments

  • maliGGs

    Posted Apr 4, 2009 11:47 pm PT

    haha nice work

  • liam3797

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 4:08 am PT

    NICE...

  • BLiTZ_156

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:35 am PT

    @ Xeipher right on the money!

    /agree

  • Xeiphyer

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:21 am PT

    Tell us what is bad and what we shouldn't play, but its our choice to play it or not. Don't try to take that away.

    Information is good, it helps stop kids from playing 18+ games, Don't try to censor the world for us, its our right, not our privlidge.

  • deeper_crust

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:18 am PT

    All I can say is this-'Muahahaha'

  • ps2owner1518

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 11:48 pm PT

    if you think what they did is cool you are all idiots, and you wounder why we dont have 18+ rating for games because you are making the rest of us look like fools

  • freek33

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 9:29 pm PT

    This happened about 2 weeks ago?

  • Mawfawka

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    Once again, an instance where the person's methods will cause their "voice" to fall on deaf ears.

  • GetafixOz

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 3:43 pm PT

    Censoring the internet.... banning games.. filtering content... You would think we were talking about China or some other communist backwater, but no, it is Australia. More power to these hackers fo actually doing something, anything, rather than just carping and whining... Like me for example

  • hazboticus

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 1:52 pm PT

    Mmm I agree, is it really that much of a problem to have an 18+ virtually everything in Australian society has an aspect of it relating to being 18, so why not games?. Additionally im quite shocked that they would even consider censoring our already crippled internet. We have some of the slowest internet speeds in the western world, not to mention some of the most exorbant costs assosiated with them, most countries one doesnt have to pay 80 dollars a month to use the internet at a respectable speed, and they definatly dont get limited to a measly 20gb. In the states people can get net twice as fast, with no download restrictions or threats of censorship for about 1/3 of the cost. so really....wtf>? It will never get passed....*crosses fingers*

  • tha_player

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 3:16 am PT

    And is an 18+ rating for games really that big a request?

  • tha_player

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 3:15 am PT

    "when in fact we need to prove to these classification people ... that their misconceptions are exactly that, misconceptions, and that we as a demographic and as citizens who contribute to society are not what they see us as..."

    You are so wrong. We shouldn't have to prove anything to the government. They should not have the right to censor the internet or video games. Once we allow them to control access to the internet (not to mention the massive speed slowdown that will cause), where will the line be drawn? What will be blocked in 10 or 20 years time. I think this is setting a very dangerous precedent.

    Good on the hackers. While this action will achieve nothing of any real consequence, at least they're making a statement. This generates publicity for the issue, and at least those pushing for such censorship will know that it won't happen without some discontent.

  • gummy_joe

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 2:44 am PT

    Those guys are heroes. The freedom fighters of our time if you must.

  • muzza93

    Posted Apr 2, 2009 1:51 am PT

    Yeah hackers you legends! filtering internet what a rubbish country Aus is becoming. What will the internet filters filter out anyway? i know its makes our internet 40 F***ing percent slower but what dont they want us to see?

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 11:37 pm PT

    they had the right idea. Only in communist countries or countries in civil war do they censor the internet. Proposing censorship will get you out of a job come next election. no one likes it, cmon the internet in this country is bad enough you have to make it worse???

  • morbid_man_guy

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 11:44 pm PT

    hey i have an idea, let's all hack and vandalise some petrol company's website to make fuel cheaper! that would totally work!! wouldn't it? because everyone knows that committing computer crime is totally make a lasting change! geez. While this event may have given some fools some self satisfaction about stating their opinion on Aussie classification, I find it bloody hard to believe they sincerely had the best interests of the greater good in mind. How is this going to help the cause for R18+ games in Oz? The people holding us back already have harsh and unrealistic misconceptions (... maybe a loosely acceptable statement) about the gamer demographic and what games and game content mean to us. This kind of blatant idiocy is just going to perpetuate those misconceptions, when in fact we need to prove to these classification people (and the greater population) that their misconceptions are exactly that, misconceptions, and that we as a demographic and as citizens who contribute to society are not what they see us as...(you all could follow my rambling, right?). Ultimately, these clowns have taken one small (medium?) step in the WRONG direction. thanks guys, why don't you go back to the circus you came from?

  • aaronobst

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 5:41 am PT

    stupid board had it coming

  • jivemaster

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 3:29 am PT

    I agree with eBentl, ColdGen, xtreme_chief et al. that apart from bringing the issue further into the media spotlight, handling the issue above all with maturity and legality is infinitely better than committing a crime to prove a point; although I don't think this can or will be used as a point against introducing R18 in Aus.

    phase4illini, that is definitely one of America's positives. As Australia does not have a bill of rights - we technically don't have the right to free speech (although such a right is implied).

  • terror_ninja

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 2:18 am PT

    thank you hackers good job

  • joelgargan

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 11:22 pm PT

    Thanks Hackers.

    Good message to get across.

  • MagicOneUp

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 11:02 pm PT

    go hackers. just to show that nothing is safe. Classification Board are going backwards.

  • eBentl

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 10:48 pm PT

    This is incredible stupid, what has been achieved? For a few hours some immature ranting was featured on the OFLC website, it has now been removed and the issue is being investigated. It has, if anything, damaged our cause... Mad Job
    How many people do you think actually saw that message whilst the site was still up? Can't say the OFLC is my favourite site for browsing

  • bradfrost88

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 10:23 pm PT

    hell yeah..show those capitalist pigs that they cant censor everything....hackers are the new hippies

  • ps2owner1518

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 6:07 pm PT

    It wont be so funny for the people who did it when they get caught

  • phase4illini

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 12:51 pm PT

    As serious a crime as this may be, I give the hackers props for bringing the issue of censorship to the forefront, and risking everything to do so. I'm glad I live in the US (aside from all the times the US decides to screw something up); freedom of speech is a core inalienable right.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 4:44 am PT

    You know that this is serious, if it involves the federal police then it has be to serious.

  • Silicon_Noob

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 12:10 am PT

    My deepest and sincerest respect for the hackers involved, shame on the Australian government. At least these devoted and hard working individuals are focused on raising the profile of the issue, whereas most of the gamespot cattle seem content to have their freedom erroded out from underneath them.

  • Wrathesoul

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:40 pm PT

    What meeting Atkinson said he wont agree to the paper or 18+ ever and for ppl to challenge that by not voting for him next election so kinda seems we wont get anywhere anyway until he is out on his selfish arse

  • xtreme_chief

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:19 pm PT

    Those idiots probably just ruined any chance we have at an R rating being introduced. The government will use this against us at the upcoming meeting.

  • Wrathesoul

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:17 pm PT

    I doubt it was an adult unless one from some mental ward reliving his days being a idiot. I am guessing by the spelling and such it was a teen probably from their school. Besides it isnt the classification ppl its SA Atkinson he is the one that needs to be targeted not them.

  • ColdGen

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 9:30 pm PT

    That is really going to help our cause fool.

  • Foolz3h

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 9:09 pm PT

    Should've posted something illegal, as then they would have had to blacklist themselves! Gogo Russian Mafia!

  • DiabolicalX

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 8:36 pm PT

    I have this odd feeling that this is gonna back fire

  • Jemry-Weatherby

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 8:24 pm PT

    Way to show them how mature and adult we are.

  • freek666

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 7:19 pm PT

    Stick it to The Man

  • Spider-Jim

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 7:13 pm PT

    GOOD!!!

  • alcoholhamster

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 6:20 pm PT

    Go hackers. Way to make people who don't want the filter and support an R rating look childish and unreasonable. Yeah, brilliant.

  • TheGhettoDT

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 6:05 pm PT

    GO HACKERS!! Aussie Classicifications sux!!

  • Dr_Puppet

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 3:14 pm PT

    The fact of the matter as i see it is... I will not be apart of Australia if we are becoming like china... its a way of government control. I say Kudos to these individuals.

  • sdauz

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 3:14 pm PT

    ppl who arent from australia just dont understand ok.....we know the government aint going to introduce +18 ratings ok....so i support these guys....they know nothing is going to change so they might as well have some fun

  • Captain_Tom

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 1:37 pm PT

    Yeah because *that's* going to help your cause.

  • RockZillaX

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 12:36 pm PT

    Haha @ Timestuff! yes yes.. Go Captain Internet!!

  • Timstuff

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 12:02 pm PT

    w00t, Captian Internet to the rescue!

  • maldoror19

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 10:01 am PT

    I don't wan't a filter either, but this is a pointless act that reflects gamers as childish and detracts attention away from a purposefull debate.

  • suprsolider

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 9:18 am PT

    go hackers.

  • sarevokmb

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 8:33 am PT

    Good for them. Never give up the fight for freedom!!!

  • Ardus

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 7:55 am PT

    ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWA

  • jmoussa1987

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 5:55 am PT

    keep pushing the fight against our tyrant goverment and its corrupt and grossly incompetent staff!

  • AlmaDanny

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 5:51 am PT

    NICE!

  • jorel12

    Posted Mar 27, 2009 5:33 am PT

    nice power to the people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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