Activists will take to the streets around Australia to demonstrate against the government’s proposed censorship scheme.

The Electronic Freedom Project, which describes itself as “dedicated to protecting the freedoms of Australians on-line”, is staging a protest at Sydney’s Town Hall Square on 13 December, starting at 12pm.

Protests will also be held at Brisbane Square, Brisbane at 11am; State Library, Melbourne at 12pm; Parliament House, Adelaide at 12pm; Stirling Gardens, Perth at 12pm; and Parliament Lawns, Hobart at 11am.

“The government plans to slow the internet by 87 per cent by opening every single exchange of information to look for “unwanted” and “illegal” content,” said the EFP in a statement on Facebook.

“Illegal internet content is so broadly defined at law that it covers everything from Facebook, to MySpace, to Wikipedia, to YouTube.

“Protest is the most effective way for the general public to oppose this law, and our protests are designed to inform the general public and increase the opposition to the filter.

“We can stop this,” the statement concludes. “But we need your help.”

The EFP also launched a YouTube video about the protests.

“Senator Stephen Conroy wants to censor the internet,” the video says. “You can help to stop him.”