Brunei: Firewall For Cyber Cafés

Extracted from http://www.brudirect.com
Bandar Seri Begawan
Internet service and content providers have been told to watch content which goes against public interest, national harmony, decency and social morals.
The Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office said yesterday unhealthy and inaccurate content on the Internet could mar Brunei's image to the outside world and investor interest towards the country.
Pg Dato Paduka Hi Ismail also called on managers of cyber cafes to be extra vigilant in making sure that their users get registered in ensuring that the Internet is not abused.
Speaking on the Internet code of practice as stipulated under the Broadcasting Act at the Civil Service Institute yesterday, Pg Dato Hj Ismail who is also Director for the Broadcasting Act, said in the perspective of Islam, it would also be a sin shouldered by the regulators, operators and users.
Citing that the growth rate of ICT development has been phenomenal in the last 10 years, he said media helps to bridge mindset's molding process where we have a role to play.
He also said that the authority would try to share with the operators those boundaries that they are expected to operate within.
Speaking on cyber cafes which have been told to use a logbook for users, he urged them to install a firewall to ensure that students do not abuse the facility at the cafes.
Internet cafe owners and broadcasting licence-holders are advised to pay the annual licence fee on time, failure of which means they are operating without approval and could be charged under the Broadcasting Act.
The briefing was attended by over 50 operators in an awareness programme or refresher course for Internet cafe operators and Internet resellers to explain the importance of code of practice, and for Internet service providers to monitor the content.
Speakers from the Attorney-General's Chambers and Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AiTi) were invited to speak. Also present were Hj Abdul Aziz, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office.
Acts and Internet code of practice can be downloaded through the website www.pmo.gov.bn under business infoservice in haws of Brunei. Enquiries can be made through info (Pmo.Qov.bn or contact 2224645 and fax: 2228106.
In the class licence rules of the Broadcasting Act, it is outlined that, any licence holder that provides any broadcasting service must ensure that their service is not used or continued to be used for lottery purposes. It must also ensure that the service is not abused to advertise, supply or promote any religions besides Islam, any practice against the teachings of Islam or to attract customers for prostitution or any immoral acts.
As for audio recording, only the approved one must be installed while for film or video recording, it must be approved by the Censorship Board unless a film or video recording is not governed by the Film and Public Entertainment Censorship Act or Public Entertainment materials.
Meanwhile, the Internet code of practice stipulates that a licence holder must ensure that content is not against the public interest or country's harmony.
In particular, the content does not contain material-that brings hatred, insult or spark dissatisfaction towards His Majesty, the government or people in Brunei that attempts at reform unless through legitimate ways.
Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin