Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Ministry of Public Administration
TT Wi-Fi Network - Terms & Conditions for use
The purpose of this policy is to define the acceptable use of ISPs internet services and describe which categories of internet content through the TTWiFi initiative are filtered (blocked) to the public at select locations throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
a) The Ministry responsible for ICT - responsible for developing and maintaining policies, legislation, standards, procedures and guidelines.
b) Telecoms Authority - responsible for the transformation of the telecommunications sector from a virtual monopoly to a competitive environment.
c) The ICT Execution Agency - responsible for managing all GoRTT ICT projects and mandates, on behalf of the Ministry responsible for ICT.
d) Ministry Department Agencies (MDAs) –
e) External vendor(s) - responsible for developing and managing the GovNeTT infrastructure as contracted by GoRTT.
f) Internet Service Provider (ISP) - responsible for providing an internet connection to end-users and organizations in addition to facilitating other network services, such as email access, domain name registration, web hosting, and data center services.
This policy represents the Ministry responsible for ICT’s position and takes precedence over all other relevant policies which are developed at a local level.
The scope of this policy is applicable to all ISP’s and covers the following:
a) Remote Access
b) Adult/Sexually Explicit Material
c) Advertisements & Pop-Ups
d) Gambling
e) Hacking
f) Illegal Drugs
g) SPAM URLs, Phishing and Fraud
h) Spyware
i) Malicious Websites
j) Violence, Intolerance and Hate
k) Peer to Peer
l) Freeware and Software Downloads
m) File Sharing and Storage
n) Streaming Media and Download
The Ministry with responsibility for ICT cannot and does not guarantee that the filtering software will block all obscenity, child pornography, or materials that are harmful to minors. Nor can it guarantee that the filtering software will not restrict access to sites that may have legitimate research or other value.
The objective of this policy is to address the considerations that will ensure that MDAs resources and information assets are properly protected against unauthorized access while meeting the access requirements for all authorized users of the TTWifi service. Critical to achieving this objective is the implementation of controls that addresses each of the requirements stated in this policy.
The objective of this policy is to ensure that the ISPs administering the TTWi-Fi network
This policy is intended for all selected Internet Service Providers responsible for implementing the infrastructure and also providing internet service at the locations.
The Ministry responsible for ICT reserves the right to take such action as it deems appropriate against end users who breach the guidelines of the policy.
Breaches of this policy by a third party, may lead to the withdrawal of the Ministry responsible for ICT information technology resources to that third party and/or the cancellation of any contract(s) between the Ministry responsible for ICT and the third party.
The Ministry responsible for ICT will refer any user of its ICT resources for illegal activities to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Individuals are required to comply with the current range of legislative frameworks addressing the security, privacy, access, storage, management of data and personally identifiable information.
The primary legislation in this regard are detailed below:
i. Exchequer and Audit Act, Chap. 69:01 and Amendments - provides for control and management of the finances of Trinidad and Tobago, and more particularly for payments, by and to GoRTT, by means of electronic funds transfer.
ii. Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Act, Chap. 72:01 -establishes the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, for the implementation of the anti-money laundering policies of the Financial Action Task Force.
iii. Freedom of Information Act, Chap. 22:02 - provides to members of the public, a general right (with exceptions) of access to official documents of public authorities unless otherwise exempted.
iv. Data Protection Act, Chap. 22:04 - provides for the protection of personal information in the custody of an organisation, whether public or private. It must be noted that the Data Protection Act governs the conditions under which personal information can be stored or processed outside of the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago.
v. Electronic Transactions Act, Chap. 22:05 - gives legal effect to electronic documents, electronic records, electronic signatures and electronic transactions.
vi. Interception of Communications Act, 2011 - provides the legal framework within which public or private communications, which are being transmitted by means of a public or private telecommunications network, can be lawfully intercepted.
vii. Computer Misuse Act, Chap. 11.17 - prohibits any unauthorised access, use or interference with a computer and for other related matters. It is to be noted that this Act is under active review and may be replaced by the Cybercrime Bill after due consideration by the Legislative Review Committee.
Providing an unfiltered WiFi service can have issues. Both the provider of the WiFi service and the general public who use it are at risk from online threats. With no control over what material Internet users can access, minors can be exposed to inappropriate content, employees can waste time in non-work related activities, and a few customers live streaming videos can deny Internet access to everyone else.
When properly implemented, a web content filter can help overcome these issues. Users of the TTWi-Fi network will be unable to browse or access unauthorized content as defined by the ISPs Content Filtering policy.
For the purpose of managing internet access, internet sites are grouped together into a number of categories and subcategories depending on the content that each site offers.
The Ministry responsible for ICT reserves the right to filter and block selected categories of internet content that it considers inappropriate, or where access to such categories could lead to legal, security or operational issues.
End users understand that wireless internet access is inherently not secure, and users should adopt appropriate security measures when using the TTWifi service. The Ministry responsible for ICT highly discourages users from conducting confidential transactions (such as online banking, credit card transactions, etc.) over any wireless network, including this service. Users are responsible for the security of their own devices.
The following categories represents an editable listing of internet content to be filtered and blocked by the selected ISPs dependent on review from the various stakeholders.
Sites that promote or sell alcohol or tobacco related products or service.
Sites which provide anonymous access to web
through a PHP or CGI proxy, allowing users to gain access to websites blocked by corporate and school proxies as well as parental control filtering solutions.
Sites that offer advice on how to commit illegal or criminal activities, or to avoid detection. These can include how to commit murder, build bombs, pick locks, etc. Also includes sites with information about illegal manipulation of electronic devices, hacking, fraud and illegal distribution of software along with content that may be offensive or tasteless such as bathroom humour, or gruesome or even frightening content such as shocking depictions of blood or wounds, or cruel animal treatment.
Sites or pages where people post targeted, deliberate and slanderous or offensive content about other people with the intent to torment, threaten, humiliate or defame them.
Sites that promote networking for interpersonal relationships such as dating and marriage. This includes sites used for match-making, online dating, spousal introduction and escort services.
Sites which promote, offer, sell, supply, encourage or otherwise advocate the recreational or illegal use, cultivation, manufacture, or distribution of drugs, pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs), intoxicating plants or chemicals and their related paraphernalia.
Sites that relate to the advertising and discussion of fashion, jewellery, glamour, beauty, modelling, cosmetics or related products or services. This will also include sites where the main content contains fashion and beauty product reviews, comparisons, and general consumer information.
Sites used to illegally distribute software or copyrighted materials such as movies, music, software cracks, illicit serial numbers, illegal license key generators and sites used as a direct exchange of files between users without dependence on a central server.
Sites which feature networks, clients and protocols related to the practice of making files and digital content available for other users to view or download including sites which offer unauthorized content for streaming, such as movies, books or TV shows.Sites that offer or are related to online gambling, lottery, casinos and betting agencies involving chance.
Sites relating to computer games, online games or other games. This also includes sites that provide information about game producers, or how to obtain cheat codes. This will include blocking access to online multiplayer gaming servers and online app stores.
Sites that promote or give advice about how to gain unauthorized access to proprietary computer systems, for the purpose of stealing information, perpetrating fraud, creating viruses, or committing other illegal activity related to theft of digital information. Sites which promote or provide the means to practice illegal or unauthorized acts using computer-programming skills.
Sites that promote a supremacist political agenda, encouraging oppression of people or groups of people based on their race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or nationality.
Sites which advocate hostility, aggression and the denigration of an individual or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or other involuntary characteristics.
Sites that use purported scientific or commonly accredited methods to justify inequality, aggression, and hostility.
Sites that deliver streaming content, such as Internet radio, Internet TV or music. It will also block sites that provide live or archived media downloads. Fan sites or an official site run by musicians, bands, or record labels will also be blocked.
Sites that contain full or partial nudity. The content blocked will not necessarily be of a sexual nature. This will include sites where the main purpose is to advertise or sell lingerie, intimate apparel, or swimwear
Sites where the domain was found to either contain malware or take advantage of other exploits to deliver adware, spyware or malware.
Sites that contain direct links to malware file downloads: .exe, .dll, .ocx, and others.
Sites containing characteristics of phishing techniques: transposition, misspellings, common phishkit paths, and other phishing keywords. Also includes phishing sites reported to eBay and PayPal as well as other 3rd-party phishing feeds.
Sites that contain explicit sexual content. Includes adult products such as sex toys, CD-ROMs, and videos, adult services such as video conferencing, escort services, and strip clubs, erotic stories and textual descriptions of sexual acts.
Sites where the main purpose is to enable the searching of the web, newsgroups, images, directories and other online content. Includes portal and directory sites such as white/yellow pages.
Sites which provide information, techniques, exercises and products intended to improve the sexual lives of adults. Also sites containing explicit or detailed discussions of sex and adult sexuality.
This category is intended to prevent very young children from being exposed to sites that have a significant focus on subjects that might come up in a sex education programme.
Sites which offer users the ability to chat online (by broadcasting messages to people on the same site in real time).
Sites which provide a web-based application enabling users to participate in the discussion of numerous topics (blogs and forums).
Virtual community/social networking sites which facilitate online socializing and the development or maintenance of personal and professional relationships across geographical and organizational boundaries.
Sites that promote, advocate or offer advice on how to commit suicide
Sites that promote, advocate or offer advice on how to self-harm.
Sites which sell, review, manufacture, or describe the manufacture of weapons. Sites which promote or instruct other on how to cause property damage, physical harm or death through the use of homemade weapons, explosive devices, or other criminal violence.
Sites which display excessive and graphic violence and/or the infliction of pain or injuries towards humans or animals.
Sites where the content is of a particularly gruesome nature will be blocked as well as sites that contain profanity.
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this document. For undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies.
i. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (2011, June 3). Data Protection Act. Retrieved June 10, 2020, from http://www.ttparliament.org/legislations/a2011-13.pdf
ii. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (2002, November 15). Bills - 1st Session of the 8th Parliament - The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, 2002. Retrieved June 10, 2020, from Pariament - Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: http://www.ttparliament.org/publications.php?mid=28&id=18