Vietnam struggles to control cyberspace

Vietnam struggles to control cyberspace

Vietnam struggles to control cyberspace
Aug 17, 2005, 19:57 GMT

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (UPI) -- Vietnam is using four government ministries to control and monitor cyber cafes, Asia Times reported Wednesday.

Public Security, Posts and Telecommunications, Culture and Information and Planning and Investment are all seeking to "regulate and standardize the fledgling and troublesome Internet cafes business," officials said.

Last year the Culture and Information Ministry requested Internet services providers to improve management by setting up more effective firewalls that filter out "unacceptable" Web pages.

The ministry has also asked individuals and organizations to apply for licenses when they set up their own Web sites.

The latest controls demand that cafe owners register clients` details, including name, age, address and identification number; to monitor sites visited by means of software supplied by their ISPs.

They are also asked to close shop before midnight and not allow customer under the age of 14 unless accompanied by adults.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International