Vietnam enforced new internet regulations on Wednesday that require social media platforms to verify user identities and share data with authorities. The rules have drawn criticism from activists who argue they represent a serious infringement on freedom of expression in the country. Under the new decree, all tech companies operating in Vietnam must verify user accounts using Vietnamese phone numbers or identification numbers, including users’ full names and birth dates.
These platforms must provide this data to government authorities upon request and remove any content deemed “illegal” within 24 hours. Critics contend that such measures will primarily serve to silence dissenting voices and restrict political discourse online. The decree also mandates that social media platforms report on user engagement metrics, including the number of regular users from Vietnam, further expanding government oversight over digital communications.
Vietnam’s new internet decree scrutinized
This regulatory shift represents a significant change from previous policies that had been in place for over a decade. The new regulations are far-reaching, covering various aspects of internet service management and imposing stricter compliance requirements on both domestic and foreign providers operating in Vietnam.
The implementation of Decree 147 follows a trend in Vietnam, where the government has increasingly sought to regulate the digital space in the name of maintaining national security and social order. Many activists have voiced concerns that this decree will be used to suppress differing viewpoints, highlighting the potential for increased surveillance and censorship. Several human rights organizations have called for the repeal of these regulations, arguing they restrict access to information and freedom of expression in Vietnam.
As global scrutiny of digital rights intensifies, Vietnam’s latest decree highlights the ongoing tension between state control and individual rights in the digital age.
