Digital rights advocates at the Electronic Frontiers Foundation say Australia's proposed copyright law changes are far too vague.

The group warns that new rules could ban websites owned by anyone who does not agree with the copyright lobby.

The Australian government is considering reforms to block websites deemed to be “inappropriate” by rights-holders, but the current draft of the bill could see a ban on any website whose owner or operator “demonstrates a disregard for copyright generally”.

In a particularly liberal interpretation, it would mean that individuals that hold a different opinion on the issue of copyright could find all of their websites blocked.

Theoretically, EFF says, “conscientious objectors” to copyright such as Leo Tolstoy and Woody Guthrie would see their work targeted.

In realistic terms, the bill could see sites which offer instructions and discussions on security and circumvention blocked.

For many advocates, it is a disturbing infringement on free speech online, letting major Hollywood rights-holders determine what kind of speech would be blocked.

Another big part of the bill seeks to block those that “facilitate the infringement of copyright”.

The EFF says this will directly target VPN service providers, despite their myriad of legitimate and commonplace uses.

The EFF, Google, Australian consumer organisation Choice and even the ACCC are opposed to this particular change.

The draft bill includes very little that has not been criticised.

It also contains some fairly vague language, frequently making reference to blocking an “online location”, without detailing what this actually means.

The Internet Society of Australia believes it mean anything from blocking a single webpage, to a whole domain, or even an entire server.

Banning whole servers would cause massive collateral damage, if the system is abused.

The Australian Libraries Copyright Committee is unhappy too, saying the bill is clearly biased towards major copyright holders, and provides no meaningful copyright reform, including the failure to define any “fair use” rights.

The public comment period on the legislation, the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, closed two weeks ago, but the EFF wants Australians to continue to voice their concerns by calling on their MPs and senators to stand against the proposed changes.