ONE problem that continues to plague the cybercafe industry in the country is lack of enforcement when there is a need for it.

As a result, errant operators continue to flout the set guidelines. This is worrisome and does not reflect the positive role that information and communications technology (ICT) should be playing in the context of cybercafe operations.

The Consumers Association of Penang recently conducted a survey in the island state and revealed some shocking findings. Among them is schoolchildren aged between 13 and 15 years old admitting frequenting cybercafe outlets to play sex-based video games and visit pornographic Web sites. Many of them skipped classes and visited cybercafes at least two to three times a week, spending between RM3 and RM7 per visit.

I’m quite sure that this problem is not just confined to Penang, but other places as well – which is sad because cybercafes are supposed to be a place for people to develop their abilities and learn new skills on the computer.

The idea of setting up cybercafes in the first place is to allow those who cannot afford to own a PC at home to take advantage of the Internet facilities at such outlets at minimal cost. Instead, a number of users, especially the younger ones, ignore the benefits that they can reap from the Internet and misuse the facility. Such abuse of cybercafes has got to stop.

So, the move to tighten regulations governing cybercafes, as announced by Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin last week, is timely and most welcomed.

Among others, cybercafes soon will be required to submit a record of their customers to the Ministry, a move aimed at stopping schoolchildren from loitering at these outlets during school hours. The Ministry also will work with the authorities to conduct regular raids on cybercafes in efforts to ensure that operators toe the line.

These moves may not go down well with some operators, but it is something that has to be done to prevent cybercafes from becoming a place of unhealthy activities. Let’s hope that this also will help boost the image of cybercafes in the country. Negative publicity is the last thing that the industry needs, going forward.