In the U.S. and foreign countries, many internet service providers (ISPs) filter out a select handful of material; child pornography sites are one frequently blocked example.  However, copyright protection organizations and governments are pushing worldwide to adopt broader filtering to protect citizens against everything from filesharing sites to cybercrime and terrorism.

In Ireland, a group called Digital Rights Ireland has used a freedom of information (FOI) request to obtained select passages from government emails detailing government plans to enact a nation-wide web filter.  The Department of Justice has previously refused the public access to the key documents.

In one email government officials chat with mobile service provider Vodafone about "introduction of internet filtering in Ireland".  And another email is titled "re proposed introduction of blocking technology".  Other emails discuss international use of blocking and proposed European legislation.

An email on the filtering was forwarded to Department of Justice in charge of casino gaming regulation, indicating the country might use the filter to try to ban web gambling (another "amoral" activity, which is currently banned in the U.S. as well).

Proponents of filtering say its essential for modern nations to filter out objectionable or amoral content.  However, its opponents say that it is far too blunt a tool and often damages legitimate businesses.  Describes TJ McIntyre, a barrister, UCD law lecturer and chairman of Digital Rights Ireland, "Blocking involves censorship taken on no legal basis. There is no judge, no jury and no right to be heard if you are blocked.  The chances are it also will be used in unaccountable ways by unaccountable organizations."

Ireland is hardly alone in wanting to filter the internet.  There's pending French and Australian legislation to roll out a nation-wide filters.  In China web filters have long been a standard.  And in the U.S. some members of Congress have advocated using a nation-wide ISP-implemented filter to remove infringed copyrighted content.

Ireland is hardly a progressive voice when it comes to censorship.  The nation recently enacted a law prohibiting "blasphemy" (offensive religious remarks or content).  The law is based on the Irish constitution, which allows free speech, but prohibits speech on any "blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter".  Under the new law, individuals found guilty of violations can be fined up to €25,000 ($33,835 USD).  And it gives authorities the power to stage raids on publishers: the courts may now issue a warrant authorizing the police to enter, using ‘reasonable force’, premises where they have grounds for believing there are copies of ‘blasphemous statements’