Hackers deface Aussie Classification Web site

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."