"Tightening" the management of public internet access.

(Baonghean) - In recent years, internet services in our province have developed very rapidly at a rate of 12-16% per year. While the development of the internet has improved people's quality of life, it also presents many difficult and problematic downsides. "Tightening" the management of public internet access is no longer just a matter for one functional agency, but requires the decisive involvement of the entire society.

The situation is alarming.

At 11 PM on December 4th, following a patrol by the Administrative Management Team for Social Order, Vinh City Police, to inspect internet cafes and public game centers in the area, it was observed that violations were still quite common. At a public internet cafe on Nguyen Van Troi Street, despite being past the permitted operating hours, nearly 10 teenagers were still engrossed in violent games or watching films with inappropriate content. The computer system had management software installed, but its purpose was only to calculate the time and amount of money customers had to pay; it did not serve any purpose in blocking or filtering "dirty" websites with obscene or violent content. The team issued a report, imposed an administrative fine, and the owner signed a commitment not to repeat the violation of operating beyond the permitted hours.

A public internet cafe on Ly Tu Trong Street (Vinh City)

Violations by public internet cafes are still occurring in many districts, cities, and towns. In Thai Hoa town, along with the socio-economic development, the number of public internet and game businesses is increasing, with over 30 such establishments currently operating. Mr. To Thanh Son, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Thai Hoa town, said that the town is very concerned and strict in managing the activities of these businesses, but basically only the "hard" regulations regarding area, lighting, fire safety, and operating hours have been implemented. Controlling the content accessed remains very difficult. Furthermore, in reality, few businesses check ID cards or record customers' names. In fact, many customers under 14 years old still freely access the internet without adult supervision.

In mountainous districts, although the number of public internet cafes and video game establishments is not large, their operations are alarming. Mr. Lo Thanh Nhat, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, said that besides public internet access points located at post offices in communes, there are a few other establishments of this type scattered throughout the district. Despite their small scale, they attract many young people. The biggest concern in managing this type of service is the difficulty in monitoring whether young people access websites with harmful or provocative content that negatively impacts their psychology.

In fact, the province has recently recorded many unfortunate cases where the perpetrators were none other than young people blindly lost in the "virtual" world. For example, the case of Vo Van Loc (1990), residing in Dong Vinh ward (Vinh City), who, due to lack of money, stole an iPhone from a customer at an internet cafe; or the case of Nguyen Van Truong (1991) and Hoang Van Giang (1996) from Vo Liet (Thanh Chuong), who, due to online conflict, got into a fight, with Truong stabbing Giang to death…

We need to "tighten" control with a comprehensive set of solutions.

Mr. Phan Sy Quy, Head of the Telecommunications Management Department of the Department of Information and Communications, stated: “As of the end of November 2015, the entire province had issued 574 licenses for 718 internet service and public game businesses. Many districts have issued 100% of the licenses, such as Nam Dan, Con Cuong, Ky Son, Nghia Dan, Quy Chau, Thai Hoa, and Yen Thanh. Some localities are lagging behind due to the large number of internet access points, such as Vinh City, Quynh Luu, and Dien Chau…”

Mr. Bui Quang Phuong, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Vinh City, said that out of a total of 225 internet cafes in the city, 75 still lack licenses. The main reasons are insufficient space (minimum 50m2) or proximity to schools (less than 200m). Furthermore, violations regarding operating hours and content access are difficult to detect; many owners close their doors after 10 PM but secretly allow customers to play games all night, making it impossible for authorities to monitor everything. Since the beginning of the year, through patrols, Vinh City police have fined 14 establishments for operating beyond the permitted hours (10 PM - 6 AM), but this number does not fully reflect the extent of violations.

The internet offers many benefits but needs to be strictly managed to minimize its negative aspects - Illustration image.

Regarding future solutions, the head of the Culture and Information Department of Vinh City stated that for establishments that do not meet the requirements for operating licenses, the city will extend the license period by 6 months. These establishments must upgrade or renovate their premises, or relocate to ensure adequate distance from schools before they can continue operating. Otherwise, their business licenses will be revoked as stipulated by law. Simultaneously, the Vinh City People's Committee is drafting a plan to coordinate and strengthen the management of internet and public gaming activities, seeking input from relevant units such as the City Police, the Department of Education and Training, and various associations and organizations.

Mr. Phan Sy Quy, Head of the Telecommunications Management Department of the Department of Information and Communications, affirmed: "To effectively manage the internet and public games, the participation of the entire society is needed. Education and guidance within each family, school, and locality; increased surprise inspections and strict handling of violating establishments; and raising awareness among business owners... are all necessary and coordinated actions."

Phuoc Anh