If clients visit websites with bad content, both customers and Internet café owners will be served with warnings or be fined, stated Pham Quoc Ban, director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications to VNExpress.

VNE: The Hanoi People’s Committee on April 26 issued a new decision to regulate Internet cafes. Could you tell us about the new features in this document?

PQB: Hanoi presently has around 4000 Internet agents. In the past, Hanoi and Ha Tay (which merged into Hanoi in 2008) had many instructions to manage Internet agents and now we have reorganized them into one decision.

The first new point in this decision is that responsibility for controlling Internet shops is assigned to district governments. Accordingly, the Culture and Information Divisions of districts must regulate Internet agents. Previously, only the police had this duty.

The second new point is that we will use technology to manage Internet shops. Specifically, competent agencies will install specialized software designed by National University. This software will oversee the activities of users and the owners of Internet shops to know whether or not they are obeying the law.

VNE: It is said that controlling the users at Internet shops will violate their right to privacy. How do you respond?

PQB: According to the new decision, Internet shops must have at least one employee with an A-grade IT certificate and they are allowed to open from 6am to 11pm.

Internet shops must be at least 200m from the gates of schools (from kindergartens to high schools) and be equipped with anti-fire equipment, audio and lighting, etc. to protect the health of all users.

At present, control of users at Internet shops is very poor. People of less than 18 years old can freely visit websites with bad content. If we continue the loose management of these shops, Vietnam will have corrupted youth infected with bad thoughts. Their personalities will be harmed because they easily see porn and violent materials. Security also worsens because some people become addicted to online games and, to have money for games, they become robbers. This is a pressing matter for society and citizens have asked the People’s Council several times to crackdown on this situation. Therefore, controlling the behaviour of users at internet shops is a popular move.

We also examined Internet regulations in many countries like Germany, France, Japan, China, etc. They have taken similar steps to control the behavior of users at Internet shops.

VNE: How will violators be punished?

PQB: Through our supervisory software, we can remind the shop owners to prevent their clients from visiting illegal websites. We can also collect evidence to fine violators under Decree 28. Fines for Internet agents may reach 70 million dong.

VNE: How will the Internet be controlled?

PQB: We will purchase servers and the necessary equipment to implement this policy throughout the entire city. We experimented with it in Hoan Kiem district already and the results have been very satisfactory. The experiment will finalize at the end of 2010. All Internet shops in Hanoi will have the software to control users by next year.

VNE: What do you think about the feasibility of this policy?

PQB: I strongly believe in its effectiveness.