Editor,

Any authority given power by the government to block and/or age restrict open internet access in Tonga needs to be very aware of the huge negative impact such restrictions will bring down upon the whole community; the resultant damage to the social fabric of this country will far outweigh the benefit of stopping a few teenagers watching things they shouldn't. 

It's going to hurt all of us if they do it, much more than many people realise. They are talking about blocking 45% of the population (the under 20's) from the internet.

It will lead to increased disruption of the family unit, mums and dads trying to comply and not let their kids use the internet or smart phones will mean more young people out on the streets looking for a way to get access; it will turn many of them into rebels, and quite a few of those rebels into criminals.   

It will bring about increase in break ins to our homes to get "open access" devices, increase in street assaults to take open devices off others, increase in theft at public and social venues to get open devices, a sizeable black market will develop associated with all these offences, and that black market will target their best sales opportunity  - our students.

It will close down business, internet cafe's for example will need to turn away the majority of their customers. Coffee shops, restaurants, hotels, any business providing open wi-fi to customers will either have to turn it off or ask under 20's to leave their phones at the door. 

What about tourists? Will they be blocked from their social web sites whilst visiting Tonga, will their under 20's have to hand their phone in at the door? Or, is it proposed that this censorship will apply only to Tongan citizens and residents?

Then of course there's the higher charges for internet to everyone because of the increased operational costs that compliance will mean for the internet providers. 

The concept of internet control to try and protect our young people from the outside world is, in itself, a well meaning idea; however it will not be seen as protection, it will be seen by almost half the population as oppressive. This plan needs to be publicly wiped, fast, before it starts to cause trouble.

Henry Garrahy