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Having recently retreated from China because of the government’s determination to manipulate the citizens search results, Google is once again under attack – this time from the Australian government.

The Australian government aims to introduce (in the name of ‘freedom’) a legislation to force all Internet Service Providers to block a list of websites for the entire population.

The Australian government’s controversial plan has received a great deal of high profile criticism in the US with Yahoo! and the government joining Google in their stance against the movement.

The Australian communications minister Stephen Conroy proposes that the country introduce a nationwide internet filter that will force the service providers to block access to material that has been added to a ‘blacklist’. This list will contain material ranging from child pornography to details on how to take part in criminal activities.

The US government is a strong supporter of online freedom and has previously criticised the Chinese government's strict internet censorship laws. Some critics have stated that, if Australia's plan goes ahead, it will see the nation's regulations become as strict as those of China.

Michael Train (a spokesperson for the US State Department) explained the government's position: "Our main message of course is that we remain committed to advancing the free flow of information which we view as vital to economic prosperity and preserving open societies globally.

"We don't discuss the details of specific diplomatic exchanges, but I can say that in the context of that ongoing relationship, we have raised our concerns on this matter with Australian officials."

As well as the moral issues involved in this move, critics believe the plan will simply be unworkable, as well as a waste of technological resources. The Australian government has so far refused to comment on the situation.